The Government has been accused of a cynical attempt to massage immigration statistics after it emerged Theresa May will announce a curb on low-skilled foreign working arriving in Britain.

Leaked Cabinet papers revealed how the Home Office has drawn up plan to issue low-skilled migrants with 11-month visas “with restricted entitlements and rights” while they live in the UK.

The move was seen as an attempt by the Prime Minister to win support among Eurosceptic Tory MPs in the run up to the Brexit vote.

But, immigration experts and campaigners yesterday warned that the proposals would mean that those arriving under the 11-month visa would not be counted as immigrants.