Today’s Home Office stories include coverage of the Security Minister's speech on post-Brexit security and the latest immigration statistics.
Security Minister’s warning on terror threat in event of Brexit no deal
There is widespread coverage of the Security Minister’s keynote speech to the International Security yesterday.
The Guardian and Independent lead on the Minister’s comments that leaving the EU without a deal would have a “real impact” on protecting the public, adding that the Prime Minister’s proposed deal with the EU “strikes the right balance to keep everyone safe”.
The Guardian covers the Minister’s comments broadly, adding that “close co-operation” with the EU is at “the heart of effective security”.
Mr Wallace was further reported as saying Mrs May’s deal sets the foundations for the most comprehensive security relationship the EU has ever had with another country.
Reporting the Minister’s comments, The Sun claims a no deal would also make it harder to keep criminals out of the UK.
It quotes the Minister as saying: “When we get our borders back I’ll be able to do things I can’t now. I can exclude people.”
Security Minister Ben Wallace said:
The UK, through her experience of the last few decades has learnt that at the heart of effective security is close cooperation.
And we and Europe know, from bitter experience, that often when there is a mistake or when something has been missed that we find, time and time again, that it has been due to a failure of cooperation.
A no-deal situation would have a real impact on our ability to work with our European partners to protect the public.
This deal strikes the right balance to keep everyone safe. It will be an ambitious partnership that ensures we can continue to work with our European partners in tackling our shared threats.
Immigration statistics
There is widespread reporting in this morning’s newspapers on the latest immigration statistics.
The Times, Telegraph and Sun note that net migration from outside the European Union is at its highest in 14 years. The figure is up 76,000 from the previous year – largely driven by more students arriving from Asia, including China and India.
Overall net migration to Britain in the year to June was 273,000.
The Times references the fact that the Home Secretary has previously said that the upcoming Immigration White Paper will include a commitment to bring migration down to sustainable levels.
Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes said:
These figures clearly show that the UK is attracting and retaining highly skilled workers, including doctors and nurses, and the brightest international students who bring significant benefits to our economy and universities.
However, we are committed to controlled and sustainable migration and I am pleased that net migration has fallen from its peak levels. As we leave the EU we will put in place an immigration system which works in the best interests of the whole of the UK and further detail on that will be set out very soon.
We have always been very clear that securing the rights of EU citizens living in the UK is a priority and the EU Settlement Scheme will make it easy for EU citizens to get the status they need.