UK News Immigration Theresa May under pressure as 84% of Brits say EU nationals should be allowed to stay
More than 80% of Brits say EU nationals currently living in the UK should be allowed to stay.
An ICM survey for the think-tank British Future found overwhelming support for Labour's stance that Europeans who have settled here under EU freedom of movement rules should not be kicked out after Brexit .
It piles fresh pressure on new PM Theresa May to guarantee the rights of the three million EU nationals currently working in Britain.
Labour’s shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said: “These figures send a clear message to Theresa May - EU nationals are valued members of our society and welcome to stay.
Labour's Andy Burnham wants the PM to guarantee the rights of EU nationals in Britain
“They are people who have put down roots here, with children, families, caring responsibilities, who pay taxes and contribute to our economy and society.”
It follows a non-binding vote in Parliament which saw MPs back a Labour motion guaranteeing the rights of Europeans living in the UK.
Mrs May has insisted she would prefer EU nationals to stay in Britain post-Brexit but has refused to guarantee their future until a deal can be struck with Brussels over the rights of British ex-pats across the continent.
Mr Burnham said: “Last month, Parliament rejected her plan to use EU citizens as ‘bargaining chips’ in the Brexit negotiations.
“It is time the Prime Minister provided the leadership that the country is crying out for and removed this uncertainty hanging over millions of people.”
The survey found there is almost no appetite for repatriating EU nationals to their own countries.
ICM found 84% of Brits believe people already working here should be allowed to stay.
The figure includes 77% of Leave voters from the June referendum and 78% of people who said they support UKIP.
But the survey found there is an appetite to cut the number of new arrivals from its current sky-high level of more than 300,00 people a year.
Almost two-thirds of those asked – 62% - said there should be a reduction in the number of low-skilled migrant workers moving to the UK.
Almost two-thirds of people want to reduce the number of low-skilled migrant workers coming to Britain
By contrast just 12% of people want to cut the number of highly-skilled people moving here, with almost half – 46% - saying this number should be increased from its current level.
British Future is now calling for a ‘national conversation’ on what Britain’s new immigration system should look like ahead of our exit from the EU.
Jill Rutter, director of strategy for British Future, said: “There are sure to be changes to immigration policy once we know what shape Brexit takes.
“That will bring challenges but it also presents an opportunity – for a comprehensive review of a system that is widely believed to be failing and in which the public has lost all confidence.
“Rebuilding public trust, in an immigration system that is competent, effective and fair, must be part of this process.
“Engaging the public in the decisions we make, through a national conversation on immigration, would help to start rebuilding that trust.”
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