Keir Starmer claims he WILL cut immigration – but refuses to set a target or say how long it will take
Keir Starmer today pledged to reduce immigration, but declined to set a target or say how long it will take.
The Work leader parked his tanks on traditional Tory territory – and risked inflaming tensions within his own party – when he made the explicit commitment.
But Sir Keir made no specific promises about how far numbers will fall, with long-term net migration currently at an eye-watering 685,000 per year.
He also refused to criticize Tony BlairThe country’s decision to open its borders to a slew of EU nationals caused a huge wave in the 2000s.
Keir Starmer today pledged to cut immigration but refused to set a target or say how long it will take
Sir Keir told the Sun on Sunday that immigration ‘must come down’ and said he would ‘control our borders and ensure British businesses are helped to hire Britons first’.
He said: ‘The migration number of 685,000 is the second highest on record.
‘We’re close to Glasgow and that’s more people than the whole city of Glasgow.
‘The Conservatives repeatedly say they are going to reduce these figures. They’ve never done it before. They have completely failed. They never had a strategy to deal with it.”
Sir Keir said: ‘Read my lips, I will bring down immigration figures. If you entrust me with the keys to Number 10, I will make this promise to you: I will control our borders and ensure that British businesses are helped to hire British people first.”
A Labor government would stop bosses who break labor law – for example by not paying workers the minimum wage – from hiring foreigners.
It would also bring about legislation to link the immigration system to training, with companies applying for visas for foreign workers required to train Britons to do the jobs.
Sir Keir is trying to shift the focus from the Diane Abbott row that has dogged his campaign – but tough talk on immigration could spell more trouble for the left.
There are reports that the leadership has offered Ms Abbott and other veterans deemed ‘troublesome’ in return for their resignations so that Sir Keir can put more of his allies in plum seats.
Rishi Sunak has pledged to reduce net migration, which is at record levels
Despite the debacle over Ms Abbott’s candidacy, a poll today showed Labor extending its huge lead over the Tories to 20 points.
The Opinium survey showed Sir Keir’s party at 45 percent – up four points since last weekend – while the Conservatives were two points lower at 25 percent.
Sir Keir and Mr Sunak appear to be taking a day off from their tour of the country on Sunday after a busy week of campaigning, culminating in the launch of their parties’ battle buses yesterday.
