 "Ajay Maken")
Dismissing the Australian-style points-based immigration system as "flawed", British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday said her government will not use it to crack down on post-Brexit migration from within the European Union (EU).
The system was one of the key assurances given by those who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU in the June 23 referendum.
However, May has dismissed the model as an option that would be used to control immigration.
"People voted to bring back control. But a points-based system does not meet that," she told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 summit in China on Monday.
Describing points-based systems as "flawed," she stressed that her aim was to get the best deal for the UK.
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"Voters want immigration controlled, but they want to trade too," she added.
A points-based system allows migrants to live and work in a country based on meeting the relevant points as part of a skills-based points calculator.
It had been one of the central promises made by the Vote Leave camp in the lead up to the June 23 referendum as a means to curb the current freedom of movement of migrants within the economic bloc.
The points system is currently in use in the UK for migrants from outside the EU, including India.
May's statement denouncing the model as "flawed" could indicate her government's rethink on the model for non-EU migrants as well.
"One of the opportunities of Brexit is that we will be able to control the number of people coming to Britain from the EU. The precise way in which the government will control the movement of EU nationals to Britain after Brexit is yet to be determined.
"However, as the PM has said many times in the past, a points-based system will not work and is not an option," her Downing Street spokesperson said here.
Nigel Farage, the former far-right UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader, accused May of "backsliding" on moves to reduce net inward migration in the wake of the Brexit vote.
"The people were clear in wanting a points-based immigration system, which is why so many went out and voted to leave the European Union.
"Any watering down from that will lead to real anger," he warned.
Her comments come as House of Commons prepares to debate a public petition today calling for a re-run of the EU referendum, which has attracted more than 4 million signatures.
"It is about seizing the huge and exciting opportunities that will flow from a new place for Britain in the world. There will be new freedoms, new opportunities, new horizons for this great country," David Davis, UK minister in charge of leaving the EU, told Parliament.
Meanwhile, a poll for BBC released today, conducted by the polling firm ComRes, suggests 62 per cent of the 1,032 British adults canvassed say they are positive about Britain's future post-Brexit.
On the other hand, 26 per cent of those spoken to have considered leaving the UK and moving elsewhere — including 43 per cent of 18-34 year olds.
