Steve Double MP comments on Theresa May's legacy on immigration
Steve Double MP has said that next Prime Minister should see Brexit "as a genuine opportunity to reset the national conversation on immigration and to revamp our immigration system", commenting in a recent report published by British Future titled "Immigration After May":
“As the longest serving Home Secretary in five decades,Theresa May introduced important changes to modernise and secure our borders as well as streamline our immigration system. However as Prime Minister, Theresa May misjudged the mood of the country by overemphasising the ending of free movement of people in her Brexit negotiations. The approach from 10 Downing Street has come to be one of ‘as long as we stop free movement, people will view that as delivering on the 2016 referendum’. But the notion of ‘control over our borders’ has moved away from a debate around migration to one focussed on the border down the Irish Sea and the integrity of the Union. Regaining sovereignty over our own laws and trade has instead become a more important issue for the British people.
Instead of viewing Brexit as a challenge to be overcome, a future Prime Minister and Home Secretary should consider it as a genuine opportunity to reset the national conversation on immigration and to revamp our immigration system. It is right that as we leave the EU we do take back control of our borders. But having control over our own immigration policy is not the same as stopping immigration. We should be able to manage immigration in a way that suits our own economic and social needs and concerns, while having a compassionate approach to those fleeing war, persecution and oppression.”