Brexit: Leaked documents revealed UK plan to cut EU migration

Proposals to force a post-Brexit cut in low-skilled migrants from the continent have ignited a political row on the eve of an explosive Commons battle over EU withdrawal.
A leaked Home Office document outlining ways to restrict immigration heightened the political temperature over Brexit after Labour insisted it would vote against the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which gets its second reading in Parliament on Thursday, and pro-Europe Tory MPs threatened to back amendments to the landmark legislation.

It is the first time detailed Government plans for bringing down net migration have been disclosed, and was described as “excellent news” by Brexiteers, for whom controlling immigration was a key reason for leaving the EU.

The 82-page document,obtained by The Guardian, marked “draft official sensitive” and dated August 2017, reveals that skilled workers will be allowed to stay for 3-5 years before they have to return.

Departure from the EU will mean “the end of rights-based, unconditional free movement”, with the government adopting powers to take “a more selective approach” to which migrants will be allowed to work and settle in the UK.

It is understood that the document – marked “Official Sensitive” – is a draft version of an upcoming White Paper which has been circulated among senior officials and politicians but has not been agreed by ministers.
“The Government will take a view on the economic and social needs of the country as regards EU migration, rather than leaving this decision entirely to those wishing to come here and employers,” it states.

The document also states that free movement in its current form will end after Britain leaves the EU in March 2019, when an implementation period of “at least two years” will begin.

EU citizens will need passports to enter the country, but holidaymakers will be unaffected as all new arrivals will automatically be allowed to stay for between three and six months.

Under tough measures to crack down on crime, anyone applying for work permits or residency will be fingerprinted so they can be checked against criminal records databases.

Setting out a Britain first policy for workers, the document, obtained by the Guardian newspaper,  states that: “Wherever possible, UK employers should look to meet their labour needs from resident labour…ensuring preference in the job market is given to resident workers.

“To be considered valuable to the country as a whole, immigration should benefit not just the migrants themselves but make existing residents better off.”

Employers will also be expected to carry out an economic needs test “to check whether suitable recruits can be found locally before hiring  an EU citizen”.

The paper adds that: “The public must have confidence in our ability to control immigration from the EU. Although net migration from the EU has fallen over the last year, we cannot exercise control over it at present, as free movement gives EU citizens a right to reside in the UK regardless of the economic needs of this country.”

A government spokesperson said: “We do not comment on leaked draft documents. We will be setting out our initial proposals for a new immigration system which takes back control of the UK’s borders later in the autumn.”