Boris Johnson last night pledged to introduce an Australian-style immigration system, despite warnings it will do nothing to cut the number of migrants coming to the UK.
In a significant policy announcement designed to get his campaign back on track, Mr Johnson revived his pledge from the EU referendum campaign to introduce a ‘tough’ points-based system modelled on the arrangement used Down Under.
It came as Mr Johnson was criticised by a leading Brexiteer over his claim there would be no trade tariffs on UK exports in the event of a No Deal Brexit. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox – who is backing Jeremy Hunt for leader – accused Mr Johnson of relying on ‘supposition’ instead of ‘facts’.
Mr Johnson’s immigration pledge would see Britain’s system refocused on highly skilled workers – and could result in a ban on over-50s. Prospective migrants would have to have a firm job offer before travelling and demonstrate ‘an ability to speak English’. They would be unable to claim benefits until they had completed a qualifying period in work.
All seems eminently sensible to me. Nigel Farage’s objection to the EU free movement was that it discriminated against skilled migrants from outside of the EU. But saying this got him labelled racist and xenophobic. However, if you are to have borders, then as a scheme, this one is equitable. I really don’t see a problem with it.
It also suggests that Boris has been taking note. The Brexit Party is a real threat to the Conservatives and if he is to eliminate that risk, then he needs to get the people who supported it back onside. A pragmatic and sensible border policy is one step in the right direction. Those of us opposed to the untrammelled mass migration have never been opposed to the principle of immigration, what we have opposed is mass uncontrolled immigration that has created little caliphates in our major conurbations.
Still, I guess we sit back and see how long before the usual suspects start calling him a racist…
“…despite warnings it will do nothing to cut the number of migrants coming to the UK.”
Well what are the “warners” complaining about then?
That immigrants might be actual doctors and engineers who want to embrace the culture rather than illiterate goatherds, conmen and the nastier Mo-botherers?
And that’s the issue. I welcome people who want to come here and enrich our economy and assimilate into our culture. Those who want to recreate the shit-hole they came from, however…
This is brazen usage of a UKIP policy that was in their manifesto 5 years ago.
It’s about time it was made government policy.
The Australian policy doesn’t prevent the importation of undesirables if the government is careless about the refugees it takes. The Lebanese community has been heavily involved in organised crime, including outlaw motorcycle gangs, and Melbourne has suffered a spate of violent crime due to the Sudanese community which is now spreading to Sydney.
I bet we’re not including refugees in this? Keeping out undesireable migrants is one thing, but as long as you can still travel half the work and claim refugee status, we’re not on top of the problem. Not even close
There is a solution to refugees. David Cameron was right in pointing this one out. Refugees must seek sanctuary in the first safe place they reach. It is then up to us to have a sensible policy regarding any we take in. One of those being that as soon as hostilities cease, they return home.
Agreed and agreed. Trouble is, we’re now working to quotas and it’s everybody fill yer boots, nobody has to go back home
Seems like more tinkering round the edges of a system teetering on the edge of credibility having left effectiveness behind decades ago……
I too want controlled migration where people who benefit us are able to come here while people who will do us harm are blocked.
Mere points won’t fix that.
We also need a credible plan to properly assimilate those here already, before we can talk of adding more.
The governing have got much credibility left to waste with the governed at this point.
All sounds good so far, time will tell if this is all talk, which the last what 9 years? of tory govt have been.
Has he mentioned present illegals i wonder, because he was in favour of amnesty for them when he was a keen europhile, last week i think or maybe it just seems like last week, because 3 years of tory betrayal is steeped into our souls now, they will have to prove their word means something, as it stands i trust them not.
Another thing the Australians do which would benefit our farmers is that you can have a one year work permit for youngsters doing a gap year but if they want to come back for another year they have to do a certain amount of farm work. A friend heading back for her second year said she had to do at least 4 months on the farms. And they had snakes to worry about as well.
The first thing to say is that this would only work if it was properly implemented and enforced and I have very little confidence that it would be. The second thing is that the politicians have been constantly lying for so long now that I don’t believe anything that they say at all. I just expect them to say one thing and do the opposite every time, because it’s what they do.
Can’t argue with that. Likewise with journalists.
I emigrated to New Zealand just over 4 years ago.My wife and I did it to join our son who has been here over 10 years.We were already retired and had to prove among other things,that we were financially self supporting and would not be a drain on NZs finances.Also it was made quite clear that in the event of a financial calamity, our son would carry all responsibility for us.I see no reason why the UK could not have a similar system and cut out much of the freeloading that goes on.