Amber Rudd slaps down Boris Johnson by dismissing his idea of increasing immigration from Australia after Brexit
Home Secretary also said she does not know the Prime Minister well enough to call her a friend
HOME Secretary Amber Rudd continued her ongoing dispute with Boris Johnson over Brexit by publically reprimanding him after he pushed for an Australian immigration plan.
Ms Rudd said she does not want to increase immigration from Australia, despite the Foreign Secretary's insistence last month that it would be a "fantastic thing" if the UK had a "more sensible system" for dealing with migration between the two countries.
Mr Johnson said after a meeting between British and Australian ministers in London: "This is something where I think we can make progress and I'm confident that we will."
Asked about Mr Johnson's comments, she told a Times Red Box fringe event at the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham: "Somebody promised to increase immigration from Australia, who would that be?"
When the questioner replied "Mr Johnson", Ms Rudd went on: "Mr Johnson again, yes.
"There are no plans to increase immigration from Australia.
"We have a very good relationship with Australia and young persons' access, particularly to Australia, is very good.
"Julie Bishop (the Australian foreign minister) was over just a few weeks ago, we agreed that it was a good thing.
"She is aware, as everybody is, that everything is under review - but I do think that that particular scheme with Australia works very well, so I wouldn't envisage a change."
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Asked if she agreed with Leave campaigners who want to see more immigration from the Commonwealth, Ms Rudd, who is in charge of immigration policy, replied: "I don't think it's helpful to refight the campaign.”
She was a prominent Remain campaigner in the run up to the referendum and blasted Mr Johnson during a TV debate, saying: “He isn’t the man you want driving you home at the end of the evening.”
When quizzed about what she said, she told the fringe event she was talking about the political “direction of travel” Boris was recommending.
She said she did not regret the attack and added: “Boris finds it very funny.
“He’s always shouting at me.”
reports she also distanced herself from Theresa May over Brexit and the way Britain will leave the EU.
She said: “We know some things the result means.
“But there is a lot within that that we don’t know,
“Brexit means Brexit, but there’s a lot to be negotiated, to be agreed to be discussed at cabinet level.
“I want to be at that table where I can hopefully influence the outcome when those decisions are made.”
And she said she did not know the PM well enough to say she’s a friend: “I don’t know her well enough to say as a friend.
"But I do see her as a supportive colleague, yes.”