GovWire

When we came into office we immediately conducted an audit of public finances

And we found a 22 billion black hole.

Now the independent Office of National Statistics has conducted vital work on the state of immigration

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As the ONS sets out

Nearly one million people came to Britain in the year ending June 2023

That is four times the migration levels compared with 2019.

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But what we didnt hear

What the British people are owed

Is an explanation.

Because a failure on this scale isnt just bad luck

It isnt a global trend

Or taking your eye off the ball.

No this a different order of failure.

This happened by design, not accident.

Policies were reformed

Deliberately

To liberalise immigration.

Brexit was used for that purpose

To turn Britain into a one-nation experiment in open borders

Global Britain remember that slogan

That is what they meant.

A policy with no support

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Well thats unforgivable.

And mark my words this government will turn the page.

That begins in the economy

Because you cannot separate this failure

From their refusal to do the hard yards on skills

On welfare reform

On giving our young people opportunities

Rather than the easy answers of looking overseas.

Because clearly the vast majority of people who entered this country did so to plug gaps in our workforce.

Skills shortages across the country

Which have left our economy hopelessly reliant on immigration

2.8 million people out of work on long-term sickness a problem ignored, left to fester.

One in 8 young people not in employment or education or training.

Sectors of our economy, like engineering

Where apprenticeships have almost halved in the last decade, while visas have doubled.

So we are taking a different approach.

We will publish a White Paper imminently which sets out a plan to reduce immigration.

The Migration Advisory Committee is already conducting a review

And where we find clear evidence of sectors that are over reliant on immigration

We will reform the points-based system

And make sure that applications for the relevant visa routes

Whether its the skilled worker route, or the shortage occupation list

Will now come with new expectations on training people here in our country.

We will also crack down on any abuse of the visa routes

For far too long, weve been casual about malpractice in our labour market

Which sends a clear signal, overseas

That we are soft touch.

Well no more.

Our rules will be enforced.

Any employers who refuse to play ball

They will be banned from hiring overseas labour.

And Im pleased to announce today

A new security agreement between Iraq and the UK

This is a world-first

That will help us smash the people smuggling gangs

And secure our borders.

The Home Secretary has been out in Iraq to seal this deal

And weve also announced funding for Iraqi law enforcement

To tackle this problem up-stream

Way before it reaches our shores.

Were also tackling the utter mess we inherited in the Home Office

Asylum returns up 53% in the last 12 months compared with the previous year.

Total returns up 34% in the last year.

And we will keep on going.

Because this is the work of change.

And alongside the NHS and the economy

Securing our borders istheissue that matters to working people.

You know, what people want from politics is not unreasonable

They want order and security.

Borders that we control.

An NHS that protects you.

An economy that offers secure work and good opportunities.

Not just for a few at the top, but for everyone.

Let me say directly to people watching

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It wont be quick or easy but we are going to turn things around

Not with gimmicks, but with graft.

A government that will not rest

Until the foundations are fixed

Borders are secure

And Britain is rebuilt.

Thank you.