Immigration will go down but world's best still welcome, Home Secretary Amber Rudd says
Immigration will be cut by a Conservative government but the world's 'brightest and best' will not be stopped from coming to Britain, the Home Secretary pledged in a visit to Wolverhampton.
Amber Rudd made the commitment in Whitmore Reans before the Tory manifesto was released today which reaffirm's the party's commitment to lower migration levels.
She also confirmed Brexit would see an end to freedom of movement for EU nationals.
She said: "We will continue to make sure we keep immigration down. It has been going down for 18 months and we expect it to continue to do so.
"One of the things we have committed to do as we leave the European Union is ending freedom of movement and that will enable us to make our own choices on immigration. I think that is one of the key things people voted for – making sure the UK can make its own choice on who comes here from outside the UK.
"I do think it is the right thing for the country because we can prioritise the different types of skills the economy is going to need. But the country is always going to be a place that is a safe refuge for refugees and legitimate asylum seekers. And it will always be a place that welcomes the brightest and the best to our world class universities and to our businesses which need them. In that context it will continue to help and support our economy to make sure overall we bring those numbers down."
She praised Wolverhampton for being an integrated and ethnically diverse city while meeting with Muslims in Whitmore Reans.
She said: "It has been really encouraging the way people have stood up for their community and said it is a model for integration and success. It is really positive and heartening to hear that too."
She joined Conservative Wolverhampton South West candidate Paul Uppal and Wolverhampton North East Tory hopeful Sarah Macken in the city.
