The Conservatives moved sharply away from their vow to slash immigration today as a Cabinet minister declared the issue was “not about numbers”.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, a close ally of the Prime Minister, appeared to suggest there will be no specific promise on immigration levels in the Conservative manifesto.

Business leaders welcomed her comments as a sign that Theresa May will not endanger the economy by attempting to cut net immigration below 100,000.

But Ukip’s former leader Nigel Farage said voters and sections of the media were being “conned” by Conservative rhetoric about taking control of borders.

In other key developments today, Jeremy Corbyn made his first set piece election speech, pledging to give people “real control” over their lives.

View photos Set piece speech: Jeremy Corbyn (REUTERS) More

But shadow chancellor John McDonnell came under fire from the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies over his claims that those on middle and low incomes had borne the brunt of tax rises.

Mr Farage, meanwhile, warned beleaguered Ukip leader Paul Nuttall he had six weeks to prove himself in the party’s top job.

Interviewed on Sky News, Mrs Bradley was asked if the Tories still thought that cutting immigration to the “tens of thousands” was achievable. She replied: “What we need is to have the right people, to attract the brightest and best. It’s not about putting numbers on it, it’s about making sure that we can deliver where industry needs skills, where the brightest and best want to come to Britain.

“We want to be an attractive place that people want to come and work, to deliver that strong economy that pays for those public services that we all value so much.” The comments are another sign that Downing Street is rowing back on so-called “hard Brexit” commitments which could, for example, mean extending European free movement rules by up to three years after Britain leaves the EU.

Sean McKee, policy director of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was pleased. He said: “We absolutely agree that securing the skills for London is not about numbers. It is about securing the skills that the UK and London needs.” Tory Right-wingers were giving Mrs May the benefit of the doubt this morning. Brexit-backing MP Philip Davies said Mrs Bradley’s comments showed the Government was wary of “over-promising”. He added: “It is obviously essential that immigration comes down. That’s one of the reasons people voted to leave the EU.”

Tory Right-winger Peter Bone MP said he was not alarmed, and it was sensible to allow “doctors and nurses” to come in to staff the NHS, for example. He added: “I think that my people expect immigration to fall substantially.”

View photos 'Total deception': Nigel Farage (PA) More

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