‘Desperate’ new Brexit plan will ban EU migrants from coming to Britain unless they have a job offer

EU MIGRANTS will be banned from coming to Britain unless they have a job offer – under radical Brexit plans being considered by Ministers.

Sources last night claimed officials were studying the idea as part of a desperate bid to bring down sky-high immigration.

Nearly 80,000 jobless EU migrants alone have come to the UK in the past year in search of work.

Speaking in China yesterday Theresa May once more ruled out the introduction of an Aussie-style points based system at the border – saying it would not control numbers.

She said: “I want a system where the government is able to decide who comes into the country.

"I think that’s what the British people want.”

And insiders pointed to the Prime Minister’s remarks last year when she said that when EU free movement rules were designed, it “meant the freedom to move to a job, not to look for work”.

The revelation came as Brexit Secretary David Davis told the Commons he would be willing to sacrifice membership of the EU’s single market to bring down immigration.

He said taking back control of Britain’s borders was the No.1 priority of a Brexit Government.

In a fierce Commons debate Mr Davis: “In the Referendum that we have just had, the biggest mandate ever given to a British government, a clear large part of it was the question of immigration.

“And the Prime Minister has made it very plain that the current state of immigration cannot go on and we will bring it to an end as part of this process.”

Asked by Tory MP Anna Soubry if he was prepared to “abandon” the single market, he added: “The simple truth is that if a requirement of membership is giving up control of our borders I think that makes it very improbable.”

The Commons promise was lapped up by Brexiteers – but will alarm business chiefs already worried about an exodus of foreign firms from the UK.

Being a member of the single market guarantees Britain can trade tariff-free with the 27 other EU nations – and benefits from harmonised rules and standards.

Brexit opponents argue that trying to trade with EU members from the outside will leave Britain open to tariffs on our exports and higher prices for imports.

Mr Davis insisted yesterday that given Britain’s economic power, he was confident of delivering the “unique solution” already mooted by Theresa May.

But his update to the House on the Brexit plans was met with derision from pro-EU MPs who claimed the Government was “making it up as it goes along”.

Emily Thornberry, responding for Labour, said: “What we’ve heard hasn’t been a strategy, it hasn’t been a thought out plan, it’s just been more empty platitudes.”

Sir David Metcalfe, head of the Migration Advisory Committee two weeks ago revealed he had recommended introducing work permits for low-skilled migrants.

Speaking in China yesterday, Theresa May denied claims she was going soft on immigration after ex-UKIP leader Nigel Farage accused her of “serious backsliding” on the Referendum result.

Her dismissal of the idea of a points-based system is a big embarrassment to the five Vote Leave members of the Cabinet - including such as Boris Johnson - who pledged to introduce one if they won the referendum.

Mrs May insisted they were wrong when she was grilled about the row during her press conference at the G20 summit in China last night.

She said: “What the British people voted for on the 23rd of June was to bring some control into the movement of people from the European Union to the UK.

“A points-based system does not give you that control.”

As the former Home Secretary, she also recalled how Heathrow staff once told her and ex-PM David Cameron about how migrants were abusing student visa rules, but because they met the criteria they were automatically let in.

Mrs May added: “That’s the problem with a points-based system.

A No10 spokeswoman added: “A points based system will not work and is not an option”.

Immigration campaigners weighed in to support Mrs May.

Chairman of Migration Watch UK Lord Green of Deddington said: “The issue is confidence in the government’s intention to reduce immigration from the EU.

“The Prime Minister was right to indicate that the Australian Points-Based System is not appropriate for the UK.

“The way forward is to expand and adapt our present work permit system. In reality this will be simpler and more effective.”