May criticized for rejecting points-based immigration

Share

British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing growing criticism over the government's lack of a clear plan on immigration and how it will pull the country out of the European Union.

Ms. May has come under fire for rejecting a key pledge made by the Vote Leave campaign to adopt a points-based immigration system, similar to Canada's, where applicants are awarded points according to several measures such as education, skills, age and work experience. Vote Leave campaigners, including several of Ms. May's senior cabinet ministers, said that kind of system was the best way of controlling immigration, but on Monday the Prime Minister said it wouldn't work.

"I want a system where the government is able to decide who comes into the country. I think that's what the British people want," Ms. May said. "A points-based system means people just come in automatically, if they meet the criteria."

Nigel Farage, the former leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party, which campaigned for Britain to leave the EU, accused Ms. May of going soft on immigration. "The people were clear in wanting a points-based immigration system which is why so many went out and voted to leave the European Union," Mr. Farage said Monday. "Any watering down from that will lead to real anger."

Ms. May has also been taken to task for being vague on when Britain will begin negotiations to leave the EU and confusing allies over Britain's Brexit plans. While she has repeatedly said "Brexit means Brexit," many are now demanding details about what that means in practice.

Brexit minister David Davis didn't help matters on Monday in his first speech in Parliament. He offered few details and said his department is still hiring staff.

"We are confident of negotiating a new position that will mean this country flourishing outside the European Union while keeping its members as friends, allies and our trading partners," said Mr. Davis, whose official title is the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.

The government is hoping to maintain open access to the EU market while restricting the flow of EU nationals to Britain. However, EU officials have insisted Britain can't have both. On Monday, Mr. Davis indicated Britain can negotiate a free-trade agreement while keeping control over immigration. "There is not necessarily a trade-off," he said.

Mr. Davis certainly has a daunting task. He has to create a new department, unravel 40 years of EU laws and regulations, advise other departments on Brexit strategies and spearhead negotiations with the EU. So far, he has 180 officials and hopes to draw on 120 more based in Brussels. That compares to about 600 trade negotiators at the EU.

Ms. May also heard some biting comments about Brexit during the G20 meeting in China. Japan's foreign ministry issued a 15-page report on Brexit calling on Britain to maintain access to the EU market and keep free movement of people. The paper also raised the prospect of Japanese companies pulling out of Britain if that didn't happen. U.S. President Barack Obama also wanted to know what relationship Britain and the EU will have under Brexit and he said the United States will work on trade deals with the EU and Asia before considering one with Britain.

Officials among several EU countries have also expressed some exasperation about when Britain will trigger the exit mechanism in the EU treaty, known as Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union, which kicks off a two-year timetable for negotiations. Ms. May has yet to say when that will happen. "I won't be triggering it before the end of the year," Ms. May said Monday. "I haven't set a date when it is going to be triggered, but I am conscious that the British people will want to see us actually putting their decision into practice."

As the government moves to sort out its Brexit strategy, the country's economy does not appear to be experiencing many adverse effects from the decision to leave the EU. Figures released Monday showed Britain's service sector posted a record month-on-month rise in activity in August.