09:09

Theresa May’s spokesman was repeatedly pressed on the migration proposals by journalists after prime minister’s questions on Wednesday. He attempted to stick to the line that “we never comment on leaked documents, or indeed draft leaked documents” and confirmed that the government wants to see immigration fall.

But asked whether May agreed with the principle set out in the draft policy document that British workers should be given priority in the labour market, he said:

I think the government has always been clear that we welcome the skills which immigrants have brought to our economy, to our public services, and we will absolutely continue to do so. Nobody is suggesting an end to immigration. But at the same time, we have said that we do want employers to do more to improve the skills of British workers, and equip them with those skills going forward.

He also confirmed the government would hope to negotiate a transitional period, during which any new migration system would be implemented. Asked whether that could include changes to free movement, he said: “Immigration is one of the areas where we would be looking at an implementation period, yes.”

Migration experts had warned that switching immediately to the system outlined in the leaked document would make it impossible to agree a transitional deal with the EU that retained the benefits of the single market.



