Say Yes 2 Europe – Remain in the EU

UK could have Australian-style immigration system according to Leave campaigners.

What’s the story?

Prominent anti-EU campaigners say they want to introduce a points-based immigration system in the UK to limit those coming to the UK to skilled workers in shortage occupations, claiming current levels of migration are lowering wages and straining public services. Read the story in the BBC.


How reliable is this story?

Questionable. Firstly, there’s no guarantee that we could introduce a points-based system– if, as many Leave campaigners say, we should seek to maintain full access to the EU single market, we’d have to keep free movement of workers. Secondly, EU immigrants aren’t the problem– they currently make up less than half of total migration to the UK and all the evidence shows they have no significant impact on either employment rates or wage levels. Finally, EU immigrants actually support our public services and pay more in taxes than they take as benefits and services.


What’s the background?


This Behind the Headlines briefing was first published on the Doorstep EU app: www.richardcorbett.org.uk/app