Host Puts Abbott On The Back Foot As She Shuts Down MPs Complaint Over New Immigration Rules

Shadow Home Secretary, Diane Abbott has lashed out at the government’s new points-based immigration system and argued that numerical migration targets do not work.

Boris Johnson has not pledged to decrease net migration to a specific level but has promised that the number of people coming into the UK will fall under the new model.

The new system will be live next year after the transition period ends.

Diane Abbott is against tougher rules for migrants attempting to enter the country. Sky News host, Jay Burley told the senior Labour MP that Boris is delivering what Labour voters want – lower immigration.

Host Kay Burley said: “Priti Patel was saying she wants to reduce immigration here in the UK and that is what traditional Labour voters want, isn’t it? Because that’s what they voted for. That’s why we’ve left the EU, that’s why the Red Wall was smashed down in the general election.

“If we don’t do it in the way the Government is suggesting, how do we do it?”

Due to the UK’s membership of the European Union and Single Market, the free movement of people applies and the UK is powerless to stop EU citizens living and working in the country.

British citizens could also live and work in 27 EU member states VISA free. This will cease to be the case by the end of the year.

Abbott replied: “The Government has been talking about lowering numbers of immigrants. It’s never once hit their target. I think that talking about numerical targets and talking about immigrants as if they’re a problem is not the sort of leadership the Government ought to offer.

“The Labour Party celebrates the contribution of immigrants, we want a fair system. We won’t play the Tories dog whistle politics because those numerical targets have never been hit.”

Abbott explained that measuring immigration with numbers “does not work” and that migration should be used first and foremost to increase GDP.

“The numbers game does not work. You measure success by an immigration policy which actually helps build the economy and build our GDP.”

Former Conservative Prime Minister, David Cameron pledged to decrease migration levels to the tens of thousands, instead, migration increased.

Do you agree with Diane? 

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