Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, responding to comments made by Theresa May on The Andrew Marr Show, said:
“Theresa May has finally admitted that her net migration target is in tatters yet she still won’t take responsibility for it.
"The Prime Minister promised "no ifs no buts” to reduce immigration to the tens of thousands, and Theresa May has spent four years claiming she was on track. Net migration is now more than twice her target and rising - and she has finally been forced to admit her target is “unlikely”. Continually making and breaking grand promises on immigration is only undermining confidence in the entire system.
“At the same time, the Home Secretary has failed to deal with the serious problems people are worried about - so fewer foreign criminals are being deported, action on illegal immigration has got worse, and nothing is being done to stop exploitation of immigration undercutting local wages, job and businesses.
"Instead of failed promises, we need practical plans to sort things out. Instead of excuses from a Home Secretary who is failing to deliver, we need serious policies to tackle illegal immigration, make sure the benefit system is fair, cut the demand for low skilled foreign labour and make our borders secure.
"Immigration is important for Britain - that’s why it needs to be controlled and managed so the system is fair.”
Commenting on Government plans to give police powers to identify suspects via IP addresses:
"We will look at the detail the Government brings forward on making it possible for the police and security services to identify terrorists and criminals online.
"We have always said that key information on IP addresses is required by the police when investigating who has sent abusive images of children or terror threats. It is important that access must be subject to appropriate oversight providing sufficient checks and balances. The Government wanted to take powers that were far too widely drawn in the Communications Data bill and we have insisted on a major review of RIPA by the independent terrorism reviewer. Public confidence must be maintained to make sure the invaluable work of the police and security services do to keep us safe can continue and is supported.”
On child abuse:
“The latest revelations on historical child abuse are alarming. And the Home Secretary is right that this is likely to be the tip of the iceberg. It is important the inquiry gets underway and that action is taken swiftly to make the system better now so we can protect our children and take what they say about anyone seriously. But the Home Secretary needs to also take action over the National Crime Agency who are only investigating the tip of the iceberg of current cases too.”
Ends