Migrants must be blocked from most social housing, ministers urged

Rishi Sunak provides update on ‘stop the boats’ pledge

Ministers must block migrants from most social housing and cap the number of refugees resettling in the UK to cut soaring migration, Tories urged.

MPs warned the government it risks “eroding public trust” unless urgent action is taken to drastically cut net migration.

The New Conservatives said red wall voters who backed the party for the first time when Boris Johnson was leader will abandon it next year unless progress is made.

In a foreword to their report, the MPs wrote: “In 2019, we won our biggest majority in 30 years by promising a new political settlement for a post-Brexit Britain.

“We won with a manifesto that promised that there would be ‘fewer lower-skilled migrants and overall numbers will come down. And we will ensure that the British people are always in control’.

“Voters across traditional Conservative heartland seats and new Red Wall seats alike placed their trust in us to keep our word.

“It’s time for us to honour that promise. Voters backed Brexit in 2016 expecting that immigration would be brought down.

“We are now in danger of eroding public trust, especially among those who voted for the Conservative Party for the first time in 2019.

“We need to get immigration falling below 2019 levels as we promised. This plan sets out how we can do that.”

Net migration, the difference between the number of people arriving in the country and those leaving, hit a record 606,000 according to the latest figures.

In total, more than 1.2 million migrants came to the country last year.

The group of MPs drawn from the last two elections has drawn up a twelve-point plan to reduce net migration to below 226,000 by next year in line with the Conservative’s manifesto commitment.

They estimate the measures would lead to a reduction in net migration of more than 400,000.

The recommendations include capping the number of refugees legally accepted for resettlement in the UK at 20,000.

Only five percent of social housing should be given to non-UK nationals until the number of British families waiting for housing is clear.

Temporary visa schemes for care workers, which will lead to around 200,000 people and their dependents coming to the country.

Raising the salary threshold that workers coming to Britain must earn by £12,000 to £38,000 would reduce numbers by another 54,000.

Tighter rules on students, including restricting study visas to the brightest international students is also in the recommendations.

The group also called for the Migration Advisory Committee to include the effect of migration on housing and public services and for the Immigration Health Surcharge to increase to £2,700 per person a year from £600.

Conservative MP Tom Hunt, who wrote the report, said: “When we assess net migration and the impact it has on the country it is critical we view the issue in the round and that we don’t solely consider GDP figures.

“Pressure on public services, impact on housing and also the consequences of often rapid social and cultural change within communities needs to be taken into account.”

A Home Office spokesman said:

“The government remains committed to reducing overall net migration. Most importantly we are tackling illegal migration by stopping the boats and delivering control of our borders.

“In May we carried out the toughest ever action by government to reduce migration by removing the right for most international students to bring family members, while continuing to benefit from the skills and resources our economy needs.

“We will continue to strike the right balance between supporting the UK economy through skilled worker visas and upholding our commitment to reduce migration over time.”

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For twenty years or so it feels like the British public has been shut out of the debate on net migration. This is debilitating to our democracy. The gap between the reality and where the majority of the British public are at when it comes to net migration currently feels like a chasm.  

The Government deserves great credit for honouring the Brexit result and ending EU freedom of movement. Finally we’ve taken back control of our legal migration system. But control isn’t enough. The vast majority of the public also expect a significant reduction in numbers. A fact acknowledged by both the Prime Minister and Home Secretary recently. 

When we assess net migration and the impact it has on the country it is critical we view the issue in the round and that we don’t solely consider GDP figures. Pressure on public services, impact on housing and also the consequences of often rapid social and cultural change within communities needs to be taken into account. 

Our paper published today sets out a roadmap for regaining the public’s trust on immigration. Under Labour immigration both legal and illegal would cascade out of control to unparalleled levels and they wouldn’t even make any attempt to address it. 

The current Conservative Government is our only hope and we stand full square behind the PM in supporting him in his mission to reduce net migration.

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