Tory frontbencher promises a ‘hard-binding cap’ on migration as latest UK figures are released: ‘It’s been too high for decades!’
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has admitted that immigration levels have been “far too high” in Britain for decades, including under Conservative governments.
The latest ONS figures reveal net migration is falling, with figures dropping by 20 per cent to 728,000 for the year ending June 2024.
Speaking to GB News, Philp highlighted that over the past 14 years, more than three million people have immigrated to the UK – “more than the population of Wales, eight times the population of Liverpool”.
He emphasised that mistakes have been made by successive governments in handling immigration.
“That honest starting point, I think, is important,” Philp said, as he outlined the Conservative party’s plans for a new approach to tackle the issue.
Philp outlined plans to move away from “mass, low wage, low skilled immigration” which he claims industry has become “addicted to”.
Instead, the Conservatives will focus on “smaller numbers and very limited numbers of high skilled, high wage migration with a hard binding cap,” he told GB News.
While specific cap levels are still being determined, Philp promised it would be “a lot, lot lower than the current numbers.”
He confirmed the cap would also fall significantly below the OBR forecast of about 350,000 per year.
Philp strongly criticised Labour’s cancellation of the Rwanda deportation scheme, claiming small boat crossings have increased by 23 per cent since the election.
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“The Rwanda scheme never actually started. The first flight was due to take off at the end of July, but the Labour government wrongly cancelled it before it even started,” he said.
He argued that “common sense” indicates people would stop making illegal crossings if they knew they would be sent elsewhere.
The Shadow Home Secretary pointed out that other countries are pursuing similar approaches, noting that even European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has suggested EU states consider offshore processing.
Philp emphasised that the Conservatives are looking to international examples for effective immigration control measures.
He specifically highlighted Australia’s success with Operation Sovereign Borders about a decade ago, which included offshore processing to address their boat migration issues.
The Shadow Home Secretary also noted Italy’s recent agreement with Albania on migration offshoring, though he acknowledged it faces legal challenges.
“If the new administration in America is able to find policies that work to fix their illegal immigration problem, then we will definitely, definitely look to learn from successes elsewhere around the world,” Philp said.