Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has admitted the previous Conservative government made “serious mistakes” on immigration as he outlined a new hardline approach under party leader Kemi Badenoch.
Speaking to GB News, Philp acknowledged that recent immigration numbers were “far, far too high” and “shouldn’t have happened”.
His comments come as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch made an announcement on immigration yesterday, which included doubling the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years.
The new rules would ban migrants who claim benefits or use social housing from ever settling permanently in Britain.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said that the last government “made some mistakes”
GB News
When asked by Ben Leo if he is willing to apologise, Chris Philp said: “The last government made mistakes. We’ve said that already.
“It was a mistake. They got it wrong and it shouldn’t have happened. And that is why under a new leader, there is a new approach.
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“The policy announcements, which are specific, they’re credible, they’re properly thought through. This is one of the steps in the process to rebuild that trust and show that under a new leader, there is a new approach and that a future conservative government would take tough action.”
He added: “Kemi and I have said honestly that mistakes were made, serious mistakes were made by the last government.
“Those numbers you mentioned were far, far, far too high. And but by coming up, we announced a new leadership. We’ve got a new leader and there are new policies.”
The Tory leader argued that citizenship should only go to those who have shown “a real commitment” to Britain.
Kemi Badenoch has released a new immigration policy
PA
“The pace of immigration has been too quick and the numbers coming too high for meaningful integration. We need to slow down the track for citizenship. A UK passport should be a privilege, not an automatic right,” she said.
Those seeking British citizenship would also face longer waiting periods, with the requirement increasing from one year to five years after obtaining indefinite leave to remain.
The plans would also ban migrants who claim benefits or use social housing from ever settling permanently in Britain.
He told GB News that the party would implement a legally binding cap on visas
GB News
Philp told GB News that the party would implement a legally binding cap on visas, though the specific number has not yet been determined.
“We haven’t said the number yet because we want to think that through properly,” he said.
“But I’ll tell you this, it’ll be a lot, lot lower than recent numbers. And it will also be a lot, lot lower than recent forecasts from the ONS and the OBR.”
The announcement comes as new ONS figures project the UK population to increase by nearly five million over a decade.
