THERESA May has slammed Boris Johnson’s new points-based immigration system – warning her successor that it is “not an answer” to Britain’s border problems.
The ex-Prime Minister today hit out at Johnson’s premiership in a blistering tirade from the backbenches.
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She sneered: “The best headlines and the greatest oratory are worth nothing if governments don’t actually practically deliver for people.”
Johnson’s plan involves workers getting preferential treatment if they head to less affluent areas outside of the south east.
The Home Secretary Priti Patel says the policy – part of a new Immigration Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech – is to ensure that Leave constituencies across the country receive a fair share of skilled workers.
But May – a former Home Secretary herself – savaged the plans, telling the Commons: “I would urge my right honourable friend to look very carefully at how that can operate logistically, because it has some very real challenges.”
The best headlines and the greatest oratory are worth nothing if governments don’t actually practically deliver for people
Theresa May
“It is possible that the Home Office has come up, the best brains have come up with the best scheme.
“But I would simply urge the Home Secretary and the Home Office to look very carefully at the lessons which have been learned in the past in relation to points-based systems which, in themselves, are not an answer to controlling immigration and can allow abuse to take place.”
Ms Patel – who announced the government’s plan to end freedom of movement at the Tory party conference – made the policy move after being inspired by Australia’s immigration system.
There migrants are given points for their linguistic skills, with 20 credits given for those with ‘superior’ English, 10 for ‘proficient’ and none for ‘competent’.
Different professions are also favoured over others – with doctors, nurses and computer programmers all given preferential treatment.
