May 3, 2017
Brexit negotiations - reports on Mr Juncker's dinner with Mrs May
• This is Brussels gossip – just look at what the European Commission themselves said immediately after the dinner took place, which was that the talks had been constructive.
• But it also shows that these negotiations are going to be tough at times and in order to get the best deal for Britain we need to ensure we have got strong and stable leadership. That is why every vote for Theresa May and her Conservative team will strengthen Britain’s hand in those negotiations.
• When it comes to 8 June, people will have a clear choice. There will be 27 European countries on one side of the negotiating table, so who do we want standing up for Britain on the other side: Theresa May, with strong and stable leadership, or weak, floundering and nonsensical Jeremy Corbyn.
May 2, 2017
Securing the best deal for Brexit – or disrupting our negotiations
• We need this election now to secure the strong and stable leadership that the United Kingdom needs to see us through Brexit and beyond; to lock in the economic progress we have made together.
• Our Labour, Lib Dem and SNP opponents are already seeking to disrupt our Brexit negotiations. This is in addition to the 27 European countries lining up to oppose us.
• Your vote counts. It will count to strengthen Theresa May’s and the UK’s negotiating position on Brexit. Your vote helps her secure the best deal to strengthen our economy, and helps us get on with the job of making life in the United Kingdom even better.
The other parties are already seeking to disrupt our Brexit negotiations
• All of them oppose our plan to get the right deal with the EU. Labour has threatened to vote against the deal we reach with the European Union. The Liberal Democrats have said they want to grind the business of government to a standstill. The Scottish National Party say they will vote against the legislation that formally repeals Britain’s membership of the European Union. And unelected members of the House of Lords have vowed to fight us every step of the way.
• All of them talk about ignoring the decision the country made and staying in the EU. Dozens of Labour MPs and the Green Party’s only MP voted against the law that starts the process of us leaving. The Liberal Democrats say ‘Britain’s best chance to succeed is within the EU.’ The SNP say the best option is for Scotland to be a ‘member of the EU.’
• All of them ignore the need to get control of our borders as we leave the EU. Jeremy Corbyn doesn’t ‘rule out’ keeping EU free movement. On top of wanting to stay in the European Union, the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Greens all want to keep EU free movement when we leave.
We have the plan to get the right deal abroad
We have set out our 12 negotiating objectives:
1. Certainty and clarity
2. Control of our own laws
3. Strengthen the Union
4. Maintain the Common Travel Area with Ireland
5. Control of immigration
6. Rights for EU nationals in Britain, and British nationals in the EU
7. Protect workers’ rights
8. Free trade with European markets
9. New trade agreements with other countries
10. The best place for science and innovation
11. Cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism
12. A smooth, orderly Brexit
29 April, 2017
The European Union published its guidelines for the Brexit negotiations today. Both sides are clear – we want these negotiations to be conducted in the spirit of goodwill, sincere cooperation and with the aim of establishing a close partnership between the UK and the EU going forward. But there is no doubt that these negotiations are the most complex the UK has faced in our lifetimes. They will be tough and, at times even confrontational. There are already people in Europe who oppose these aims and people at home trying to undermine them.
That is why it is so important that the UK has the right leadership in place. The British people face an important choice on 8 June – strong and stable leadership under Theresa May, or Jeremy Corbyn at the head of a weak and divided coalition of chaos.
Remember – only a vote for Theresa May and her team can provide strong and stable leadership in the national interest, strengthening Britain’s hands in the Brexit negotiations and helping us get on with the job of making life in the United Kingdom even better.
We need this election now to secure the strong and stable leadership that the United Kingdom needs to see us through Brexit and beyond; to lock in the economic progress we have made together.
Our Labour, Lib Dem and SNP opponents are already seeking to disrupt our Brexit negotiations. This is in addition to the 27 European countries lining up to oppose us.
Their position can only mean one thing – uncertainty for the British people; bringing grave risk to our growing economy with higher taxes, fewer jobs, more waste and more debt.
Your vote counts. It will count to strengthen Theresa May’s and the UK’s negotiating position on Brexit. Your vote helps her secure the best deal to strengthen our economy, and helps us get on with the job of making life in the United Kingdom even better.
GENERAL ELECTION ANNOUNCED JUNE 8, 2017
19 August, 2016
Making a success of Brexit
• Brexit means Brexit and we are going to make a success of it. Theresa May as Prime Minister and the Conservatives in Government will provide strong and proven leadership as Britain begins its negotiations to leave the European Union and forge a new role in the world.
• We will work hard to get the best deal for Britain. As we conduct our negotiations, it must be a priority to regain more control of the numbers of people who come here from Europe – but also to allow British companies to trade with the single market in goods and services.
• At the same time, we are going to make the most of the opportunities that our departure presents – getting out into the world and doing business right across the globe, while at home building a Britain that works for everyone.
Steps being taken make a success of Brexit:
• Establishment of the Department for Exiting the European Union and the Department of International Trade. The new departments will bring together officials and policy expertise from across the civil service and beyond to ensure that Brexit works for Britain.
• Promoting the UK as a place to do business and trade with. Already there are a number of positive signs that we can make a success of Brexit. International companies such as Softbank and GlaxoSmithKline have already announced major investments in the UK. Whilst the Australian Prime Minister made clear his desire to proceed ‘as soon as possible’ on a new trade deal with Britain.
• Involving every part of our country. We will fully involve the devolved governments in Brexit. In particular, we will give the Scottish Government every opportunity to have their say as we form our negotiating strategy and in Ireland we had a common travel area between the UK and the Republic for many years before either country was a member of the European Union. Nobody wants to return to past borders.
Making a Success of Brexit
Ensuring that we are prepared for the negotiations
• Establishment of the Department for Exiting the European Union and the Department of International Trade. The new departments will bring together officials and policy expertise from across the civil service and beyond to ensure that Brexit works for Britain.
Major investments in the UK following the referendum
• Japanese technology firm Softbank announced a record £24 billion investment into the UK as it moved to buy Cambridge-based microprocessor manufacturer ARM (BBC, 18 July 2016).
• GlaxoSmithKline have announced a £275 million investment in the United Kingdom (Reuters, 27 July 2016).
• Anglo-Swedish drugs company, AstraZeneca announced that it will invest £330 million in a new research and development centre in Cambridge creating 2,000 new jobs (Daily Mail, 29 July 2016).
• Online retailer Amazon said it would create 1,500 new jobs in 2017 when it opens a new distribution centre in Tilbury, south east England, maintaining its surge of investment in Britain (Reuters, 18 August 2016).
• Bombardier’s Derby train factory will build 660 state of the art carriages for Abellio East Anglia as part of a £1 billion contract, securing 1,000 jobs into the next decade (DfT press release, 10 August 2016).
Brexit: Labour’s lack of plan
Labour have no idea how to make Brexit work – and are divided about the decision
• Jeremy Corbyn originally said that Article 50 should be triggered immediately... ‘…Article 50 has to be invoked now so that we negotiate an exit from European Union (BBC News, 24 June 2016).
• …before contradicting himself and saying that Article 50 should not be triggered immediately. ‘I did not mean it should be invoked on Friday morning and we should rush over to Brussels and start negotiating things away. Because, clearly, the negotiations are going to be very long and very complicated.’ (BBC Newsnight, 21 July 2016).
• Owen Smith wants a second referendum on the Brexit deal if he becomes Labour leader… ‘We should give them another chance. That does mean a second referendum or a general election when the terms are clear. The Labour Government should be committing to that’ (The Guardian, 13 July 2016).
• …but Jeremy Corbyn opposes a second EU Referendum. ‘I think we’ve had a referendum, a decision has been made, you have to respect the decision people made’ (Huffington Post, 6 August 2016).
18 August, 2016
Immigration
• This Government is committed to bringing net migration down to sustainable levels. A sustainable level means tens of thousands each year, rather than hundreds of thousands.
• It will take time to do that, because until we leave the European Union we will still be affected by free movement rules.
• But when we leave the EU we will be able to control of the numbers of people who come here from Europe – and we must control the numbers of those who come from outside Europe too.
Action we have taken:
• Brought forward a new Immigration Act to further tackle illegal migration. The Act makes illegal working an offence, making it clear to migrants that working illegally in the UK is a crime. It also allows for wages paid to illegal migrants to be seized as proceeds of crime and extends the principle of ‘deport first, appeal later’ to all illegal immigration cases. These measures build on our Immigration Act 2014.
• Tightened access to welfare so people come here for the right reasons. We are limiting what benefits new migrants can access and have toughened the test migrants must pass before they can claim benefits. The Immigration Act 2014 requires temporary migrants to contribute to the NHS.
• Strengthened the rules for migrants coming from outside the EU. Students now have to speak English, can only stay if they get a well-paying job, and people must support the families they bring.
Key points:
• John McDonnell wants ‘open borders’. ‘If we’re a civilised society we should have open borders. We should be allowed to travel right the way across the globe wherever we want. It should be a basic human right.’
• Jeremy Corbyn opposes restrictions on benefits for migrants. ‘Restricting benefits is really the wrong agenda to go down. If people are here and working and paying taxes then surely they have a right to benefits just like anybody else does’.
Q: How can we protect our border when the Home Affairs Select Committee says the number of vessels patrolling coastal waters is ‘worryingly low’?
New maritime enforcement powers allow Border Force officers to stop, board, divert and detain vessels and arrest anyone they suspect has broken immigration law. New patrol vessels are also being introduced, helping to intercept attempts to smuggle dangerous weapons, drugs and migrants into the country. The first batch will be in place in the coming months, with all of the vessels operational by the end of next year.
Immigration: Putting Britain first
Cracking down on abuse of EU free movement and making the welfare system fairer
• We are making sure people come here for the right reasons, to contribute to our country – not because of our welfare. We are limiting what benefits new migrants can access and have toughened the test migrants must pass before they can claim benefits, including quizzing them about what they have done to find work before coming here and on their English language skills (DWP, 13 December 2013).
• We are imposing the longest possible transitional controls on new countries joining the EU. We extended transitional controls on Bulgaria and Romania from five to seven years – the maximum allowed under the treaties signed by Labour. When Croatia joined the EU in 2013, we introduced controls on their workers for the longest period possible, until 2018 (European Commission).
Controlling immigration from outside Europe
• Insisting immigrants speak better English so they can build relationships with their neighbours. We have introduced language tests for visas for non-EU immigrants and made clear to councils they must reduce spending on translation services (HM Treasury, 8 April 2014).
• Protecting public services – so hardworking taxpayers can rely on them when they need them. We are clamping down on health tourism, making temporary migrants pay into the NHS and making sure local authorities set a residency requirement before a person qualifies for social housing (DH Press Release, 22 October 2013, link; DCLG, Providing social housing for local people, December 2013).
• Cracking down on those who are here illegally so people can be confident the immigration system is fair. We have changed the law to make it harder for illegal immigrants to get rented accommodation, bank accounts, and driving licences. The Immigration Act 2014 makes it easier to deport foreign criminals (Home Office, Immigration Bill Facts).
• Cutting the abuse of student visas whilst still welcoming the brightest students. We have closed more than 900 bogus colleges whilst still approving 156,000 visa applications for study at UK universities in the year to December 2015 (ONS, Migration Statistics Quarterly Report).
• Introducing a cap on non-EU migration to this country. We have capped the number of non-EU workers to 20,700 a year (Home Office, 23 November 2010).
Tackling illegal migrants with the Immigration Act 2016
• Ensuring that our immigration system works for British people and legal migrants. The Immigration Act 2016 makes illegal working an offence, this will make it clear to migrants that working illegally in the UK is a crime. It also allows for wages paid to illegal migrants to be seized as proceeds of crime and extends the principle of ‘deport first, appeal later to all illegal immigration cases’ (Home Office, 13 May 2016).
• Raising visa salary thresholds to stop businesses using foreign workers to undercut wages. This will ensure that British workers are not losing their job or having to work for lower wages because of cheaper foreign labour (Daily Telegraph, 24 August 2015).
• Evicting illegal migrants and banning rogue landlords who house illegal migrants. The Immigration Act allows landlords to terminate a tenancy when a person’s leave to remain in the UK ends. It requires all landlords to conduct ‘right to rent’ checks on their tenant’s immigration status before offering a tenancy agreement which will be a criminal offence if not undertaken (Department for Communities and Local Government, 3 August 2015).
Immigration: Labour’s failures. Labour had a policy of uncontrolled immigration
• Net immigration under Labour was more than twice the population of Birmingham. Between 1997 and 2010, net immigration to Britain was more than 2.2 million and up to 4 million people settled here (Office for National Statistics, Long Term International Migration, 1997 to 2010).
• Annual net immigration increased five-fold under Labour. Net immigration into Britain was 47,500 in 1997. In June 2010, immigration was 244,000 (ONS, Long-Term International Migration, 2013, 27 November 2014, link; ONS, Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, February 2015, 26 February 2015).
• Labour left a backlog of 450,000 asylum cases. In 2010 the Government inherited a backlog of 450,000 asylum cases. Labour admitted in 2006 they had a backlog with some cases ‘dating back many years’, but they failed to resolve it (BBC News, 2 June 2011).
• Labour wanted unlimited immigration. Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett said he saw ‘no obvious upper limit to legal immigration’ (BBC TV, Newsnight, 12 November 2003).
Labour's immigration policy put pressure on wages and public services
• After Labour refused to put transitional controls in place in 2004, more than 90 per cent of new jobs went to foreign nationals. Between the last quarter of 2003 and 2008, 91 per cent of the increase in employment levels was accounted for by foreign nationals (ONS, 14 August 2013).
• Migration Watch estimated that under Labour there was a migrant a minute registering at GPs. ‘The research, conducted by Migration Watch, found that in 2007-8, 605,000 people who arrived from overseas registered with a GP in England and Wales – equivalent to one registration a minute, day and night, throughout the year’ (Migration Watch, 22 December 2009).
• Immigration increased demand on housing. Under Labour a third of all housing demand was due to net immigration Since 2003, a third of all housing demand is caused by immigration (Theresa May, Speech on ‘An immigration system that works in the national interest’, 12 December 2012, link; Hansard, 14 December 2006, col. 1281 WA).
Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour party wants an immigration free for all
• Jeremy Corbyn thinks net immigration levels are ‘actually very small’. ‘The amount of net immigration is actually very small. And immigrants as a whole are net contributors to the economy’ (Channel 4 News Labour Leadership Hustings, 1 September 2015).
• Jeremy Corbyn would reinstate the post-study work visa. ‘Labour should reinstate the post-study work visa for international students’ (Jeremy Corbyn, A Better Future for Young People, August 2015).
• He opposes any restrictions on benefits for migrants. ‘Restricting benefits is really the wrong agenda to go down. If people are here and working and paying taxes then surely they have a right to benefits just like anybody else does’ (Channel 4 News Labour Leadership Hustings, 1 September 2015).
• John McDonnell thinks that we should have an amnesty for all illegal migrants. ‘Those most vulnerable in our society at the moment are those with insecure nationality status. But while we struggle for [a] decent living wage, we also should say very clearly, no-one, no-one is illegal in this country. All workers should be given the right and respect and dignity of full citizenship’ (John McDonnell. May Day Protest for the London Living Wage, 5 September 2009).
22 August, 2016
The Government has set out wide ranging new measures to tackle extremism in prisons.
Islamist extremism is a danger to society and a threat to public safety – it must be defeated wherever it is found. We are committed to confronting and countering the spread of this poisonous ideology behind bars. It stands against fundamental British values – our love of individual liberty, democracy and free speech.
That is why the Government will be isolating the most dangerous extremists from the main prison population. These prisoners will be held in ‘specialist units’ in the high security estate. Prison officers and governors will be empowered and have been instructed to ban extremist literature and to remove anyone from Friday prayers who is promoting anti-British beliefs or other dangerous views. They will be supported by a new directorate for Security, Order and Counter-Terrorism, responsible for monitoring and dealing with this evolving threat.
Preventing the most dangerous extremists from radicalising other prisoners is essential to the safe running of our prisons and fundamental to public protection. Prisons should allow criminals to be reformed and turned into law-abiding citizens. This is why we are acting decisively to prevent prisoners being radicalised – and to deal with those who wish this country harm.
23 June, 2016
Today the British people will vote in the first in/out referendum on membership of the European Union in over 40 years, delivered by this Conservative Government.
The Prime Minister has delivered on the Conservative Party’s manifesto pledge to renegotiate a better deal for Britain in Europe.
Throughout the talks the Prime Minister was driven by one consideration – what is best for Britain’s economic and national security. But it is now for every individual to decide whether they want to ‘Remain’ in the European Union or ‘Leave’ in the first referendum on this in over forty years.
In line with the decision of the Party Board, the Conservative Party, including CCHQ, will not be promoting either side in the referendum.
22 February, 2016
The European Union referendum campaign has begun.
It is now for every individual to decide whether they want to ‘Remain’ in the European Union or ‘Leave’ in the first referendum on this in over forty years.
In line with the decision of the Party Board, the Conservative Party, including CCHQ, will not be promoting either side in the referendum.
13 August, 2016
Continued, post Brexit EU funding for agriculture and research
On Saturday, the Chancellor guaranteed EU funding beyond the date the UK leaves the EU – as the Government continues to ensure that we make a success of Brexit.
We recognise that many organisations across the UK which are in receipt of EU funding, or expect to start receiving funding, want reassurance about the flow of funding they will receive.
That is why we are confirming that projects signed before the Autumn Statement and Horizon research funding granted before we leave the EU will be guaranteed by the Treasury after we leave. The Government will also match the current level of agricultural funding until 2020, providing certainty to our farmers, who play a vital role in our country.
We are determined to ensure that people have stability and certainty in the period leading up to our departure from the EU, as well as using the opportunities that departure presents to get out into the world and do business right across the globe.
13 October, 2015
EU
We were returned to office with a very clear mandate to improve Britain’s relationship with the rest of Europe and to reform the European Union.
That is why it is right that we conduct this renegotiation so that we address the concerns that the British people have about Europe. We want to see a new settlement: one that will make Europe a more competitive and dynamic continent to ensure it delivers prosperity and security for all of the people within it, not just for those in Britain.
This will give the British people the choice of membership of a reformed European Union in an in/out referendum by the end of 2017. It will be for voters to decide whether to stay or leave.
4 October, 2015
Immigration
We want to reduce immigration from the EU, and the best way to do that is to limit the financial incentives – such as in-work benefits like tax credits, and access to social housing – that attract EU migrants to Britain.
Uncontrolled, mass immigration makes it difficult to maintain social cohesion, puts pressure on public services, and can force down wages. We have slashed student fraud, struck off nearly 900 bogus colleges, and toughened access to welfare and housing but there is clearly much more to do.
The Immigration Act 2014 went some way to tackle the ‘pull factors’ which draw people to the UK – now that we are free of the constraints of coalition, we can build on that work. Our new Immigration Bill will further address illegal working. We have also asked the Migration Advisory Committee to provide advice on significantly reducing economic migration from outside the EU. We will negotiate with the EU to reform welfare to reduce the financial incentives that attract EU migrants to the UK. And our long term economic plan will see many more young Britons given the training and skills they need to fill the jobs our growing economy is creating.
We are building a system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants and tough on those who abuse the system or flout the law. However we need further reform at an EU level, to renegotiate access to welfare so that we can reduce the financial incentives that attract EU migrants to the UK.
What we have done:
Made it harder for people to live in this country illegally. Our Immigration Act 2014 made it easier to deport illegal criminals through enacting the principle of ‘deport first, appeal later’ and ending the abuse of the right to family life. It has also stopped banks from opening accounts for illegal migrants.
Tightened access to welfare so people come here for the right reasons. We are limiting what benefits new migrants can access and have toughened the test migrants must pass before they can claim benefits. The Immigration Act requires temporary migrants to contribute to the NHS instead of receiving free treatment.
Strengthened the rules for migrants coming from outside the EU. Students now have to speak English, can only stay if they get well-paying job, and people bring their family have to show they can support them.
What more we will do:
Our new Immigration Bill will continue to make the process of deporting illegal migrants faster. It will make illegal working an offence, this will make it clear to migrants that working illegally in the UK is a crime. It will also allow for wages paid to illegal migrants to be seized as proceeds of crime and extend the principle of ‘deport first, appeal later’ to all illegal immigration cases.
Work to crack down on firms employing illegal migrants. Immigration enforcement will work with HRMC and other organisations to better target businesses that employ illegal migrants.

Immigration: Putting Britain first
Cracking down on abuse of EU free movement and making the welfare system fairer
Making sure people come here for the right reasons, to contribute to our country – not because of our welfare. We are limiting which benefits new migrants can access and have toughened the test migrants must pass before they can claim benefits, including quizzing them about what they have done to find work before coming here and on their English language skills (DWP Press Release, 13 December 2013, link).
Imposing the longest possible transitional controls on new countries joining the EU. We extended transitional controls on Bulgaria and Romania from five to seven years – the maximum allowed under the treaties signed by Labour. When Croatia joined the EU in 2013, we introduced controls on their workers for the longest period possible, until 2018 (European Commission, link).
More of the growth in employment is British citizens getting jobs than in the past – meaning more people with a job, getting paid each month. Since we came into government in 2010, almost two thirds of the rise in employment has been accounted for by British citizens (ONS, Labour Market Statistics, July 2015; EMP06: Employment by country of birth and nationality, 15 July 2015, link).
Controlling immigration from outside Europe
Insisting immigrants speak better English so they can build relationships with their neighbours. We have introduced language tests for visas for non-EU immigrants and made clear to councils they must reduce spending on translation services (HM Treasury, 8 April 2014, link).
Protecting public services – so hardworking taxpayers can rely on them when they need them. We are clamping down on health tourism, making temporary migrants pay into the NHS and making sure local authorities set a residency requirement before a person qualifies for social housing (DH Press Release, 22 October 2013, link; DCLG, Providing social housing for local people, December 2013, link).
Cracking down on those here illegally so people can be confident the immigration system is fair. We have changed the law to make it harder for illegal immigrants to get rented accommodation, bank accounts, and driving licences. The Immigration Act makes it easier to deport foreign criminals (Home Office, Immigration Bill Facts, link).
Cutting abuse of student visas whilst still welcoming the brightest students. We have closed more than 900 bogus colleges whilst still approving 188,000 visa applications for study at UK universities in the year to March 2015 (ONS, Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, 27 August 2015, link).
Making the system fairer with our new Immigration Bill
Ensuring that our immigration system works for British people and legal migrants. We will make illegal working an offence, this will make it clear to migrants that working illegally in the UK is a crime. It will also allow for wages paid to illegal migrants to be seized as proceeds of crime and extend the principle of ‘deport first, appeal later to all illegal immigration cases’ (Cabinet Office 27 May 2015, link).
Raising visa salary thresholds to stop businesses using foreign workers to undercut wages. This will ensure that British workers are not losing their job or having to work for lower wages because of cheaper foreign labour (Hansard, 10 June 2015).
Evict illegal migrants and ban rogue landlords who house illegal migrants. Our new Immigration Bill will allow landlords to terminate a tenancy when a person’s leave to remain in the UK ends. All landlords will be required to conduct ‘right to rent’ checks on their tenant’s immigration status before offering a tenancy agreement which will be a criminal offence if not undertaken (Department for Communities and 14 Local Government, 3 August 2015, link).

Labour had a policy of uncontrolled immigration
Net immigration under Labour was more than twice the population of Birmingham. Between 1997 and 2010, net immigration to Britain was more than 2.2 million and up to 4 million people settled here (Office for National Statistics, Long Term International Migration, 1997 to 2010, link).
Net immigration went up five-fold under Labour. Net immigration into Britain was 47,500 in 1997. In June 2010, immigration was 244,000 (ONS, Long-Term International Migration, 2013, 27 November 2014, link; ONS, Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, February 2015, 26 February 2015, link).
Labour left a backlog of 450,000 asylum cases. In 2010 the Government inherited a backlog of 450,000 asylum cases. Labour admitted in 2006 they had a backlog this big with some cases ‘dating back many years’, but they failed to resolve it (BBC News, 2 June 2011, link).
Labour wanted unlimited immigration. Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett said he saw ‘no obvious upper limit to legal immigration’ (BBC TV, Newsnight, 12 November 2003).
This put pressure on wages and public services
After Labour refused to put transitional controls in place in 2004, more than 90 per cent of new jobs went to foreign nationals. Between the last quarter of 2003 and 2008, 91 per cent of the increase in employment levels was accounted for by foreign nationals (ONS Labour Force Survey, 14 August 2013, link).
Migration Watch estimated under Labour there was a migrant a minute registering at GPs. ‘The research, conducted by Migration Watch, found that in 2007-8, 605,000 people who arrived from overseas registered with a GP in England and Wales – equivalent to one registration a minute, day and night, throughout the year’ (Migration Watch, 22 December 2009, link).
Immigration increased demand on housing. Under Labour a third of all housing demand was due to net immigration. Since 2003, a third of all housing demand is caused by immigration (Theresa May, Speech on ‘An immigration system that works in the national interest’, 12 December 2012, link; Hansard, 14 December 2006, col. 1281 WA, link).
And Labour are now in total chaos over immigration
Andy Burnham supports changes to the free movement of people from the EU to the UK. ‘For too long, Labour has gone along with the idea that free movement on the current rules benefits everyone and affects all areas equally. Well, you know what: it’s just not true.’ (Politics Home, Andy Burnham's speech to the Labour party conference, 30 September 2015, link).
However, Jeremy Corbyn opposes changes to the free movement of people. ‘We should also be looking at greater environmental protection, and also challenging David Cameron in his wish to promote the Single Market in Europe and also to reduce the ability of people to move across Europe – the free movement of labour across Europe’ (BBC Radio 4, The World at One, 20 August 2015).
Corbyn also thinks that net immigration to the UK is ‘actually very small’. ‘The amount of net immigration is actually very small. And immigrants as a whole are net contributors to the economy’ (Channel 4 News Labour Leadership Hustings, 1 September 2015).

4 September, 2015
EU Referendum and Renegotiation
• We have been returned to office with a very clear mandate to improve Britain’s relationship with the rest of Europe and to reform the European Union.
• That is why it is right that we conduct this renegotiation so that we address the concerns that the British people have about Europe. We want to see a new settlement: one that will make Europe a more competitive and dynamic continent to ensure it delivers prosperity and security for all of the people within it, not just for those in Britain.
• This will give the British people the choice of membership of a reformed European Union in an in/out referendum by the end of 2017. It will be for voters to decide whether to stay or leave.
We are doing this by:
• Holding a renegotiation. We have set out key areas for renegotiation to secure the best deal for Britain in Europe. These include:
o Cracking down on benefit tourism and tightening the rules for migrants;
o Securing more trade, but not an ‘ever closer Union’;
o A greater role for national parliaments;
o Improving competiveness across the European Union;
o Getting a better deal for British taxpayers.
• Giving the British people a voice and a real choice on Europe. There will be an in/out vote on the UK’s membership of the European Union by the end of 2017.
Only the Conservatives have a plan to secure change in Europe:
• Legislating to hold an in/out referendum. We will hold an in/out referendum on the the EU by the end of 2017 (European Union Referendum Bill, 18 June 2015, link).
• The Prime Minister has made it clear that the EU has become too big, too bossy and too interfering. The status quo is not acceptable, and voters across Europe have made it clear that they want change. We are working to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with the EU.
• Making sure people come here for the right reasons and tightening benefit rules for migrants. We will deliver the toughest system on welfare for EU migrants anywhere in Europe and make the immigration system fairer (BBC News Online, 28 November 2014, link).
• Making sure we are no longer subject to a principle of ‘ever closer Union’. This principle is not right for Britain (David Cameron, Daily Telegraph, 15 March 2014, link).
• Power flowing away from Brussels. We need to ensure powers can flow back to national parliaments, away from Brussels, rather than always to it. (David Cameron, Daily Telegraph, 15 March 2014, link).
We are standing up for Britain’s interests in Europe:
• Cut the EU budget, saving British taxpayers over £8 billion. We have negotiated huge savings in the EU Budget: halving the annual increase in the 2011 Budget, freezing the 2012 Budget and securing the first ever cut in the EU’s long-term budget, saving British taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds each year
• Kept Britain out of the EU bailouts to protect British taxpayers’ money. We have safeguarded Britain by ending UK participation in the EU bailout funds so we will never again have to pay for the economic failures of the Eurozone
• Vetoed a new EU fiscal treaty because it would have damaged Britain’s interests – the first time a British Prime Minister has ever vetoed an EU treaty
• We have introduced a ‘referendum lock’ to ensure no more power transfers to Brussels without a referendum. We have passed a law to make sure that no powers can pass from Britain to Brussels without the consent of the British people in a referendum
• Helping small businesses by reducing EU regulations. We secured agreement in the EU to exempt small businesses from any new EU regulations and to review existing regulations from which small businesses could be exempted
Labour’s failures: Labour have no plan to secure change in Europe:
• Refused to give the British people a say on Europe. While we have committed to holding an in-out EU referendum, Labour’s then-leader Ed Miliband said: ‘no, we don’t want an in-out referendum’ (Hansard, 23 January 2013).
• Opposed our draft law to hold an in-out referendum. Labour opposed our draft bill to put into law our commitment to hold an in-out EU referendum (Labour Party Press Release, 14 May 2013).
• Opposed our referendum lock. Labour opposed our law to prevent any powers moving from Britain to Brussels without a referendum. Their Shadow Europe Minister, Emma Reynolds, said it was ‘unnecessary’ (Hansard, 25 January 2011).
Labour don’t see a problem with more Europe:
• Said they might still take Britain into the Euro. While we have pledged never to take Britain into the Euro, before the General Election Ed Miliband refused to rule out joining the Euro, saying it ‘depends how long I am Prime Minister for’ (BBC, Politics Show, 23 October 2011).
• Don’t think the EU has too much power. While we have stood up for Britain in Europe, before the General Election Ed Miliband said: ‘No, I don’t think Brussels has got too much power’ (BBC, Politics Show, 23 October 2011).
The last Labour Government failed to stand up for Britain in Europe:
• Gave away £7 billion of our rebate. We have secured huge savings in the EU Budget and protected Britain’s rebate, but when they were in power Labour gave away £7 billion of our rebate with nothing in return (Hansard, Col. 364W, 24 November 2010, link).
• Oversaw massive EU Budget increases. While we have secured huge savings in the EU Budget, Labour oversaw a massive 47 per cent increase in the EU Budget (EU Commission, 1998 General Budget, link; EU Commission, 2010 General Budget, link).
• Signed Britain up to Euro bailouts. Labour signed us up to two EU bailout funds which we have now got Britain out of (Daily Telegraph, 10 May 2010).
• Signed Britain up to the Lisbon Treaty. We vetoed an EU treaty which didn’t protect Britain’s interests. Labour broke their promise to hold a referendum and signed Britain up to the EU’s Lisbon Treaty (The Independent, 23 April 2004).
• Failed to cut regulations on British businesses. Under Labour, EU regulations cost British businesses an over £60 billion per year by 2010 (British Chambers of Commerce, Burdens Barometer 2010, link).
27 August, 2015
Yesterday’s immigration figures are deeply disappointing. We have already slashed student fraud, struck off nearly 900 bogus colleges, and toughened access to welfare and housing – but there is clearly much more to do.
The Immigration Act 2014 went some way to tackle the ‘pull factors’ which draw people to the UK – now that we are free of the constraints of coalition, we can build on that work. Our new Immigration Bill will further address illegal working, and we have also asked the Migration Advisory Committee to provide advice on significantly reducing economic migration from outside the EU.
While these figures underline the challenges of reducing net migration, they should also act as a further wake-up call for the EU. This reinforces the need for further reform at an EU level, and the need to negotiate to reform welfare to reduce the financial incentives that attract EU migrants.
24 August, 2015
The Chancellor, George Osborne, today advanced the case for reform in Europe with a three-stop tour to European capitals, Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen.
We have been returned to office with a very clear mandate to improve Britain’s relationship with the rest of Europe and to reform the European Union.
That is why it is right that we conduct this renegotiation so that we address the concerns that the British people have about Europe. We want to see a new settlement: one that will make Europe a more competitive and dynamic continent to ensure it delivers prosperity and security for all of the people within it, not just for those in Britain.
This will give the British people the choice of membership of a reformed European Union in an in/out referendum by the end of 2017. It will be for voters to decide whether to stay or leave.
4 June, 2015
The Prime Minister continues to work towards a renegotiation with Europe.
Britain’s relationship with Europe isn’t working and needs to change. The Prime Minister has been clear that the choice in the EU referendum should not be continued membership of the EU, but instead the British people should have the choice of a reformed relationship with the EU.
That is why the Prime Minister is continuing to renegotiate Britain’s relationship with Europe. Our priority is to reform the European Union to make it more competitive, and to address the concerns of the British people about our membership – the status quo is not good enough.
This will give the British people the choice of membership of a reformed European Union in an in/out referendum by the end of 2017. It will be for voters to decide whether to stay or leave.
