Theresa May recommits to failed 2010 government policy to cut net migration

Theresa May has committed to reducing net migration in the UK to the tens of thousands.

Speaking on the campaign trail ahead of the 8 June general election she said that the Conservatives wanted to deliver "sustainable numbers" of people coming to Britain and defined that number as being less than 100,000.

Despite the tens of thousands target revealed in 2010 during the coalition government – when Mrs May was home secretary – net migration figures ended up increasing instead of decreasing.

Mrs May's comments come after Karen Bradley, the culture secretary, said that the government's immigration policy should not be about numbers.

Speaking to Sky News, Mrs May said: "We have been very clear, as I was as home secretary for six years, that it is important that we have net migration that is in sustainable numbers.

"We believe sustainable numbers are the tens of thousands.

"Obviously leaving the European Union means we can bring in control in relation to people moving from the EU into the UK as well as people from outside the EU coming into the United Kingdom."

When asked whether the Tories would set another target, she said: "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 the EU."

On 20 April, Bradley said: "What we need is to have the right people, to attract the brightest and best, it's not about putting numbers on it.

"It's about making sure that we can deliver where industries need skills where the brightest and best want to come to Britain."