Theresa May pledges to keep Tory immigration target – despite repeated failure to meet it
THERESA MAY has pledged any future Conservative government will again promise to keep net migration to 100,000 per year – despite the Government's repeated failure to reach that target.
Uncontrolled immigration makes it more difficult to maintain social cohesion.
The Home Secretary described the target, originally intended to be reached during this parliament, as "important".
The Tory minister told The Times: "It is about not just dealing with those coming into the system but also about making sure that those people who shouldn’t live here actually leave."
In 2010, Prime Minister David Cameron famously said the annual limit of 100,000 would be hit with "no ifs, no buts".
However, figures released last week showed there was a net flow of 298,000 migrants into Britain in the 12 months to last September - equal roughly to the population of Nottingham.
With immigration likely to be a key topic ahead of May's general election, Mrs May said it was important for the Government to tighten the rules on immigration.
She added: "Uncontrolled immigration makes it more difficult to maintain social cohesion.
"It has an impact on public services, it can also drive down wages at the the lower end of the income scale."
However, Mrs May's words could cause tensions within the Government.
Tory ministers past and present have expressed their concerns about the 100,000 migration target, claiming it is unrealistic.
Mrs May, often tipped as a future Conservative leader, also indicated she might attempt to reintroduce immigration policies that were blocked in the current parliament.
These include making visitors from certain countries pay a bond before they are allowed into the country and making people leave Britain while their immigration appeals are heard.
She also ruled out excluding students from immigration figures.
Labour's shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper criticised Mrs May, saying that "no one will believe a word" either the Home Secretary nor Mr Cameron said on the matter.
She said: "Theresa May is taking people for fools by trying the same trick again. This massive gap between Tory rhetoric and reality just undermines trust in the immigration system.
"Labour has always said having a net migration target which treats all immigration as the same was the wrong approach."
