Portrait of Theresa May
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Theresa May on Immigration

Stricter migration control (strong)

TL;DR

Theresa May prioritized reducing net migration to sustainable levels through stricter controls across all entry routes.

Key Points

  • She committed to reducing net migration to the tens of thousands during her tenure as Home Secretary in 2010.

  • Theresa May introduced the 'Hostile Environment' policy, intended to make it difficult for people without lawful status to remain in the UK.

  • As Prime Minister, she categorically rejected a post-Brexit points-based immigration system, arguing it would not work and was not an option in September 2016.

Summary

Theresa May, during her time as Home Secretary, established a core position centered on bringing net inward migration down to sustainable levels, often citing a goal of reducing numbers to the tens of thousands from the hundreds of thousands seen previously. She argued that while well-managed migration benefits the UK economy and culture, uncontrolled migration creates significant pressure on public services like health and housing, and can cause social tension. As evidence of the problem, she pointed to a net inward migration of nearly 200,000 in the year prior to a 2010 speech, and over 2.2 million people between 1997 and 2009.

Her policy approach, which she stated was not about ending migration but managing it better, focused on tightening control over all major routes, including economic, student, and family visas. She found the points-based system alone insufficient, comparing it to squeezing a balloon where controlling one route simply caused another to increase. Furthermore, as Prime Minister, she definitively ruled out a points-based system after Brexit, emphasizing the need for the government to retain control over who enters the country.

Key Quotes

“The aim is to create, here in Britain, a really hostile environment for illegal immigrants.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Theresa May's main stance, articulated clearly in a 2010 speech, was a firm commitment to reducing net immigration to 'sustainable levels,' aiming for the tens of thousands. She believed uncontrolled immigration strained public services and society, according to official statements from that time.

Yes, Theresa May categorically ruled out a points-based immigration system for the UK after the Brexit vote, stating it would not work and was not an option in September 2016. Her spokesperson elaborated that the government wanted control over who comes to Britain rather than a system granting rights based on criteria, as reported by a European magazine.

As Home Secretary, Theresa May focused on cracking down on abuse across all immigration routes, including students, families, and economic migrants, to restore public confidence in a managed system. She also introduced policies aimed at creating a hostile environment for illegal immigrants, which later became central to the Windrush scandal, as noted in parliamentary evidence.