Theresa May: Leaving EU won't solve immigration
Britain leaving the EU would not be "the single bullet" to solve the UK's immigration issues, according to Theresa May.
In a speech about Britain's membership of the EU, the Home Secretary said voters shouldn't think a potential Brexit would "suddenly solve all our immigration problems".
But Ms May's speech, while advocating Britain remaining within the EU, was "so Eurosceptic in tone" that it pleased some members of the Leave campaign.
She said the UK is the fifth largest economy in the world and has alliances that go far beyond Europe.
However, she maintained that Brexit risks bringing the development of the single market to a halt and could cause the loss of investors and businesses.
"The disintegration of the EU would cause massive instability among our nearest neighbours and biggest trading partners - 44% of our goods and services go to the EU," she said.
"Remaining inside the European Union does make us more secure. It does make us more prosperous and it does make us more influential beyond our shores."
However, Ms May said Britain should leave the European Convention on Human Rights.
"The ECHR can bind the hands of parliament, makes us less secure by preventing the deportation of dangerous foreign nationals and does nothing to change the attitudes of governments like Russia's when it comes to human rights," she said.
"If we want to reform human rights laws in this country, it isn't the EU we should leave but the ECHR and the jurisdiction of its court."
Ms May said Britain would never sign up to a European police force or public prosecutor, but stressed the benefits the EU has when it comes to co-operation and information sharing.
Ms May responded to immigration concerns that have featured in the EU referendum debate, pointing out that remaining in the EU does not mean Britain cannot control its borders.
"The fact we are not part of Schengen means we have avoided the worst of the migration crisis that has hit continental Europe over the last year," she said.