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Home Secretary Priti Patel has revealed her plan to seize the "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity offered by Brexit to enact Boris Johnson's radical shake-up of the UK's immigration system.

Ms Patel said the Government was determined to make Britain the "greatest country on Earth" as she told of her immediate plans for a tougher immigration policy, whether the UK leaves the EU with or without a deal.

The Prime Minister has already committed to a radical rewrite of the policy, and Ms Patel confirmed she would be urgently commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee to review Australia's points-based system.

A skills-based approach would ensure the country is looking at what people can contribute instead of where they come from, she said.

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, she added: "The current migration system means we have to give an automatic right of access to all EU nationals.

"In future, we will decide who we give preference to, so we can ensure we are able to attract the most talented and skilled from other parts of the world."

Changes to the immigration system would also help boost the economy as well as public confidence, Ms Patel said.

"We must seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity offered by the end of free movement," she wrote.

"Free from the shackles of the EU - and an automatic right of entry for their citizens, with or without work - we will be able to give the type of preference to brilliant scientists, academics and highly skilled workers that we want to see more of."

Boris Johnson's new cabinet - In pictures 16 show all Boris Johnson's new cabinet - In pictures 1/16 Sajid Javid Reuters 2/16 Priti Patel leaves 10 Downing Street leaves 10 Downing Street after being named home secretary AFP/Getty Images 3/16 State Secretary Dominic Raab EPA 4/16 Stephen Barclay AP 5/16 New British Defence Secretary Conservative Member of Parliament Ben Wallace EPA 6/16 Amber Rudd Getty Images 7/16 State for International Trade Liz Truss leaves as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson begins his new term at Downing Street EPA 8/16 Britain's Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock AFP/Getty Images 9/16 Michael Gove EPA 10/16 New Education Secretary Gavin Williamson EPA 11/16 Jacob Rees-Mogg Reuters 12/16 Jo Johnson AFP/Getty Images 13/16 Newly appointed Environmental Secretary Theresa Villiers is seen outside Downing Street Reuters 14/16 Newly appointed Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nicky Morgan Reuters 15/16 Britain's newly elected Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom AFP/Getty Images 16/16 Newly appointed Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Esther McVey Reuters 1/16 Sajid Javid Reuters 2/16 Priti Patel leaves 10 Downing Street leaves 10 Downing Street after being named home secretary AFP/Getty Images 3/16 State Secretary Dominic Raab EPA 4/16 Stephen Barclay AP 5/16 New British Defence Secretary Conservative Member of Parliament Ben Wallace EPA 6/16 Amber Rudd Getty Images 7/16 State for International Trade Liz Truss leaves as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson begins his new term at Downing Street EPA 8/16 Britain's Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock AFP/Getty Images 9/16 Michael Gove EPA 10/16 New Education Secretary Gavin Williamson EPA 11/16 Jacob Rees-Mogg Reuters 12/16 Jo Johnson AFP/Getty Images 13/16 Newly appointed Environmental Secretary Theresa Villiers is seen outside Downing Street Reuters 14/16 Newly appointed Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nicky Morgan Reuters 15/16 Britain's newly elected Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom AFP/Getty Images 16/16 Newly appointed Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Esther McVey Reuters

The new Home Secretary also vowed to ensure a strong border to help keep out terrorists and criminals, and said all prospective migrants would be checked for criminal records.

Mr Johnson made no secret of his desire for an Australian-style points-based immigration system during the Tory leadership contest.

He set out his proposals as part of his wide-ranging first Commons speech as Prime Minister, saying: "No-one believes more strongly than me in the benefits of migration to our country.

"But I am clear that our immigration system must change."