The British government has thrown down the gauntlet to Brexit negotiators in Europe by announcing free movement across The Channel will end in March 2019 when the UK leaves the EU.
From day one as an independent sovereign state again, Britain will expect European workers moving to the country to go through an immigration process pending the introduction of a post-Brexit policy for EU citizens.
In a multi-pronged public relations exercise in the UK and overseas, political big guns Home Secretary Amber Rudd, Brexit trade minister Liam Fox and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson all went public on immigration.
Referendum pledge to voters
They promised to uphold the referendum pledge that so many voters backed to bring Britain’s borders back under the control of Westminster.
The government also took the opportunity to announce a white paper for later this year, with Home Office minister Brandon Lewis confirming an immigration bill would go through Parliament next year.
“The simple fact is EU freedom of movement rules will not apply in Britain after 2019,” he said.
Rudd said the government would listen to unions, businesses and universities before drafting the bill and that advisers would investigate how immigration curbs would impact skilled jobs held by EU expats. The inquiry would report in September 2018.
Playing by British rules
She added: “We will ensure we continue to attract those who benefit us economically, socially and culturally.
“But, at the same time, our new immigration system will give us control of the volume of people coming here – giving the public confidence we are applying our own rules on who we want to come to the UK and helping us to bring down net migration to sustainable levels.”
Meanwhile, in Sydney, Australia, Johnson said immigration had been “fantastic for the energy and dynamism of the economy” but “that doesn’t mean that you can’t control it”.
Ministers did not mention the rights of British expats in the EU after Brexit, nor did they seem to consider the impact their statements might have on Brexit talks.
