The 7 most worrying ideas in the Tories’ leaked post-Brexit immigration plans

An 82-page draft of Home Office plans for immigration post-Brexit was leaked on Tuesday.

It appears to show a planned clampdown on unskilled workers and anyone coming to the UK for work from the EU, which London Mayor Sadiq Khan called a:

blueprint on how to strangle London's economy.

Here's a few things that cropped up in the memo:

1. Businesses would have to prioritise British nationals

We are clear that, wherever possible, UK employers should look to meet their labour needs from resident labour.

The paper advises that British residents would be prioritised in recruitment processes.

EU migrants would have to prove they have a job offer before entering the UK and firms could be made to fill out an "economic needs test" ensuring that EU hires occurred only when there were little options else.

2. Remaining in the UK would require checks

Migrants would have to apply for permission to stay after a set time, around three to six months. They may have to hand over a photo, fingerprints and undergo criminality and employment checks.

If they passed, they'd receive a "residence permit".

3. And it would require a minimum income

The document reads:

We propose to introduce a reasonable but specific income threshold for EU citizens to come to the UK.

This is currently set for £157 a week and would require checks on whether the work of the person in question is "genuine and effective".

The document also reads:

We will not grant residence status for jobseekers.

Permits for most workers would also only last for up to two years.

4. Less access for family members

The memo says the government wants to "tighten up" which family members can join someone with residence permission.

It argues that the EU's definition of extended family is far too wide ranging and imposes "virtually no limit", therefore they suggest only "direct family members, plus durable partners" would be permitted to come to Britain.

5. ID cards

Despite David Davis' prior denials of these plans, the document suggests the right to remain will be "evidenced through a secure document, such as a residence card" possibly logged in a system.

Our aim is that this system should be fully digital.

Yet physical cards would also be allegedly issued.

6. Arriving would require a passport

We intend to require all EU citizens to travel on a passport.

7. Increased refusal of entry

The document suggests the UK plans:

to strengthen our ability to refuse entry to EU citizens with a criminal record or whom we consider a threat to the UK.

You can read the full document here.

HT Mirror

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