Boris Johnson ditches his promise for an Australian-style points system for UK immigration

Boris Johnson last night abandoned his big referendum promise to push for Australian-style points system for immigration control.

Last week the new PM made clear she believed the points system would not work — now BoJo has fallen into line.

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The pledge was a central plank of the Vote Leave campaign, but last night it’s biggest cheerleader ditched it live on camera.

After a meeting with his Aussie counterpart, the Foreign Secretary said the “crucial” point of his promise was to “take back control” of Britain’s borders.

Probed on his position by The Sun, Boris said: “the crucial utensil that needs to be applied is, of course, control and you may remember there was a campaign on which the slogan was ‘take back control’”.

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He added: “That was the ambition.”

The U-turn came as the Foreign Secretary attempted to secure a quick post-Brexit trade deal with Australia.

Boris told a press conference with Australian Foreign Secretary Julie Bishop that there is a “glutinous harmony” between the two countries during the annual Australia-UK ministerial meeting.

Last night BoJo hailed “very encouraging talks” with his Aussie counterpart and claimed he was “very confident” Britain will soon seal “progressive” post-EU trade deal.

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Boris said after the talks: “I’m very confident that we will be able to at least sketch out, pencil in, the essentials of a very progressive deal that will be good for Australia, good for the UK, good for Europe and good for the world.”

The Foreign Secretary said it would be a “fantastic thing” if the UK had a “more sensible system” for dealing with migration between the UK and Australia.

The meeting, which was held at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea also included talks between Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon and his Aussie counterpart Marise Payne.

They also discussed immigration, the terror threat, Islamic State and the humanitarian crisis in Syria.