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May says UK faces losing control over immigration - even it leaves EU Theresa May says UK faces losing control over immigration - even it leaves EU
(35 minutes later)
Britain could be forced to accept unlimited immigration from other European countries even if the country votes to leave the EU, the Home Secretary Theresa May has warned.Britain could be forced to accept unlimited immigration from other European countries even if the country votes to leave the EU, the Home Secretary Theresa May has warned.
In her first major intervention in the referendum debate Mrs May said if the UK wanted access to the single market we would have no choice but to allow the free movement of people just as we do at present.In her first major intervention in the referendum debate Mrs May said if the UK wanted access to the single market we would have no choice but to allow the free movement of people just as we do at present.
And she insisted it was still possible to control immigration as part of the EU denying that the UK had “lost control of its borders”.And she insisted it was still possible to control immigration as part of the EU denying that the UK had “lost control of its borders”.
“Yes, free movement makes it harder to control immigration but it does not make it impossible,” the Home Secretary told the Andrew Marr show.“Yes, free movement makes it harder to control immigration but it does not make it impossible,” the Home Secretary told the Andrew Marr show.
She added: “If we were to be outside the EU and still wanted to access the single market then you would have to accept free movement rules.”She added: “If we were to be outside the EU and still wanted to access the single market then you would have to accept free movement rules.”
Before the campaign began some commentators suggested that Ms May would join Boris Johnson and Michael Gove in the Leave camp.Before the campaign began some commentators suggested that Ms May would join Boris Johnson and Michael Gove in the Leave camp.
But she said after having looked at all the issues she was convinced that, on balance, Britain was better off in.But she said after having looked at all the issues she was convinced that, on balance, Britain was better off in.
“It is not a black and white decision,” she said. “It is not an issue of whether we can survive (outside the EU) – its what’s best for Britain’s future.“It is not a black and white decision,” she said. “It is not an issue of whether we can survive (outside the EU) – its what’s best for Britain’s future.
Ms May said in terms of law and order being able to share criminal records with other EU countries made Britain safer – something that could be lost if we pulled out.Ms May said in terms of law and order being able to share criminal records with other EU countries made Britain safer – something that could be lost if we pulled out.
“There is no doubt that we need to do more in exchanging criminal records but we are not going to be able to do that better outside the EU.”“There is no doubt that we need to do more in exchanging criminal records but we are not going to be able to do that better outside the EU.”
Challenged over accusations that Britain had “lost control of its borders” Ms May insisted that the idea “everybody can walk into the UK” was “not the case.”Challenged over accusations that Britain had “lost control of its borders” Ms May insisted that the idea “everybody can walk into the UK” was “not the case.”
She pointed to a letter written to her by Labour calling for her to ban the French National Front Leader Marine Le Penn who wants to campaign for Britain to pull out of the EU as evidence that the UK is far from powerless in controlling who is allowed into the country.She pointed to a letter written to her by Labour calling for her to ban the French National Front Leader Marine Le Penn who wants to campaign for Britain to pull out of the EU as evidence that the UK is far from powerless in controlling who is allowed into the country.