Keir Starmer today vowed to slash immigration – but refused to set any target or say how long it will take.
The Labour leader parked his tanks on traditional Tory turf – and risked inflaming tensions within his own party – as he made the explicit commitment.
But Sir Keir stopped short of making any specific promises about how far numbers will come down, with long-term net migration currently running at an eye-watering 685,000 a year.
He also refused to criticise Tony Blair’s decision to open the borders to a swathe of EU nationals, which caused a huge surge in the 2000s.
Keir Starmer today vowed to slash immigration – but refused to set any target or say how long it will take
Sir Keir told the Sun on Sunday that immigration has ‘got to come down’, saying he would ‘control our borders and make sure British businesses are helped to hire Brits first’.
He said: ‘The 685,000 migration number – it’s the second highest on record.
‘We are near Glasgow and that’s more people than the entire city of Glasgow.
‘The Conservatives repeatedly say they are going to cut these numbers. They have never done it. They have completely failed. They have never had a strategy to deal with it.’
Sir Keir said: ‘Read my lips I will bring immigration numbers down. If you trust me with the keys to No10 I will make you this promise: I will control our borders and make sure British businesses are helped to hire Brits first.’
A Labour government would bar bosses who break employment law – for example by failing to pay workers the minimum wage – from hiring foreigners.
It would also legislate to link the immigration system to training, with businesses applying for foreign worker visas having to train Britons to do the jobs.
Sir Keir is trying to shift the focus away from the Diane Abbott row that has dogged his campaign – but tough talk on immigration could cause more issues with the Left.
There are reports that the leadership has been offering Ms Abbott and other veterans regarded as ‘awkward’ peerages in return for quitting, so Sir Keir can install more of his allies in plum seats.
Rishi Sunak has made commitments to reduce net migration, which has been running at record levels
Despite the debacle over Ms Abbott’s candidacy, a poll today showed Labour extending its huge lead over the Tories to 20 points.
The Opinium research found Sir Keir’s party on 45 per cent – up four points since last weekend – while the Conservatives were down two points on 25 per cent.
Sir Keir and Mr Sunak appear to be taking a day off from touring the country on Sunday after a busy week of campaigning culminating in the launch of their parties’ battle buses yesterday.
