Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to an article by David Cameron in the Financial Times, said:

“The Prime Minister is playing catch up. Why has it taken him eight months to copy Labour’s proposal to make the Habitual Residence Test stronger and clearer?

“After Labour proposed this change in March, the Government said it was all fine and nothing needed to change. Yet now, rather than following a coherent plan, they are flailing around. No wonder public confidence in the Government’s handling of this issue has collapsed.

“This change was only one of Labour’s proposals. The Government should also be beefing up enforcement of dodgy gangmasters and targeting sectors that are reliant on migrant labour to ensure they are working to train employees.”