Britain must be able to control borders after Brexit with cap on numbers, benefits slashed and a work permits system, top Tory demands
The former Work and Pensions Secretary said that any migration system had to regain control of the numbers of people coming to the UK
BREXIT must allow Britain to slash the number of people we let into the country, a top Tory has demanded.
A day after plans were revealed for EU migrants to be able to still come to Britain after we leave as long as they have a job, Iain Duncan Smith called for a cap on the numbers coming as well.
The former Work and Pensions Secretary insisted that our new migration system MUST allow us to control the numbers of people coming to the UK.
He argued that it was one of the reasons people voted to take back control is last year's referendum, and urged the government to "tighten up" the rules.
today, he said: "The objective of any new migration policy must be to get this into balance, so that the UK can continue to be able to attract those needed to work, but do so at a sustainable rate that can be absorbed whilst adding value to the economy."
Mr Duncan Smith called for EU nationals to be brought within the present UK work permit system - and to set a cap on the numbers who could come here.
A seasonal workers scheme like in New Zealand could also operate well in the UK, he said, which would force workers to be paid fairly and ensuring other wages don't get driven down.
He demanded too that benefits costs be brought "under control" and only those who have worked for a period of time be able to claim.
"This will also help stop the abuse of migrant workers from unscrupulous employers who pay very low wages in the anticipation that these will be topped up by tax credits and family benefits," he argued.
And free movement for tourists, students and pensions who can support themselves should still be allowed, he said.
Yesterday it was reported that EU migrants would still be able to come here after we leave - as long as they had a job to come to.
The plans will also cast doubt on whether ministers will be able to achieve their aims of cutting it to below the tens of thousands as planned.
The plans - which have yet to be approved by the Cabinet or No10 - contradicted previous leaked Home Office papers which revealed the UK plans to cap the number of low-skilled EU migrants - confirming an end to free movement after Brexit.
But the ideas were met with fury from leave campaigners who want to see meaningful strides towards reducing our net migration targets.
Ukip's migration spokesman John Bickley, said that the British people "expect numbers to be cut."
And Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, told The Sun: "The outcome of allowing into Britain any EU citizen who had a job would mean no control whatsoever over the numbers.
"It amounts to throwing in the towel on immigration control and giving carte blanche to employers to bring in any number of low-paid workers regardless of their impact on the lives of hard-working people.
"This is exactly what many millions voted against in the referendum."
