'Tens of thousands' migration target 'to be in Tory manifesto'

Credit: PA

The Conservatives' commitment to reduce net migration to "tens of thousands" is expected to form part of the party's General Election manifesto.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said on Sunday she wanted to "continue to bring immigration down" but stopped short of guaranteeing that David Cameron's controversial target would be repeated.

Ukip leader Paul Nuttall set out his party's immigration policy on Monday, saying they would introduced a "balanced migration" system.

Last month, the Prime Minister restated her hope to cut annual net migration - the difference between the number of people coming into the country and people leaving - to a "sustainable" level in the tens of thousands.

Theresa May's commitment will be included in the party's 2017 manifesto, due to be released in the next few weeks, the Press Association reported.

Paul Nuttall said Ukip would introduced a 'balanced migration' system. Credit: PA

During an election visit to Enfield in April, Mrs May - who failed to hit the target as Home Secretary - said she still had the target in mind.

She added: "We want to see sustainable net migration in this country.

"I believe that sustainable net migration is in the tens of thousands.

"Leaving the European Union enables us to control our borders in relation to people coming from the EU, as well as those who are coming from outside."

But Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the PM's aim is "political maneuvering that means very little".

Tim Farron on Monday morning

Responding to the target announcement, he added: "Theresa May should know better. She has set, and then failed to meet countless immigration targets in her time as Home Secretary.

"It's important that we have an immigration policy, but it's also important that that policy is for the benefit of Britain... Don't set a silly, artificial target that you know you will break just because it will please a couple of newspapers."

Meanwhile, Mr Nuttall said Ukip was the only party entering the election with an "honest and clear commitment" to cut immigration.

"Ukip will go into this election with a policy of balanced migration, which means zero net immigration over the next five-year period," he said.

  • ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand was listening to Mr Nuttall's speech: