The contents of Rishi Sunak’s deal with Suella Braverman, agreed during the leadership contest, have come to light after parts of the agreement were leaked.
The deal saw the Prime Minister agree to a four-point plan to tackle migration, allies of Braverman have claimed, including an increase to the salary threshold for legal migrants to £40,000.
Downing Street has not denied discussing policy options with Braverman or the existence of a document outlining the measures.
But it has rejected any characterisation of their policy discussions as a ‘deal’.
WATCH: Braverman described as the ‘last true Conservative’
The four-point plan also saw Sunak agree to shut down the graduate visa route and restrict the number of dependants that legal migrants are able to bring to the UK, allies of Braverman have claimed.
The final aspect of the plan, according to documents seen by the Telegraph, was the prioritisation of Russell Group university applicants when evaluating student visa applications.
The latest revelations come days after figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that net migration surpassed 745,000 in 2022 – a record high for the UK.
This comes despite the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto pledge to reduce net migration.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, the New Conservative Group of MPs and former PM Boris Johnson are all pushing similar measures, which the Government is yet to implement.
Jenrick is said to be pushing a five-point plan to tackle migration, which would also see the salary threshold increase along with a clampdown on the number of dependents.
His plan includes proposals that were made by Braverman before she was sacked – and supposedly stonewalled by Sunak.
Meanwhile, the New Conservatives launched a scathing intervention on migration, warning Sunak the issue is “do or die” for the party and demanding “immediate and massive” action to meet the party’s manifesto pledge to reduce numbers.
After the figures were released, Braverman launched a public intervention, describing the latest figures as a “slap in the face to the British public”.
Warning: “Enough is enough”, the Home Secretary suggested Rishi Sunak had blocked measures to prevent migration, which she claimed she had been “pushing for” when she was in the Home Office.
But, asked about net migration figures, a Government minister suggested that Braverman was to blame.
They told GB News: “That’s really a question for current and former home secretaries including Suella Braverman. She’s levelled criticism when actually she was the person responsible”
The Prime Ministers official spokesperson said the Government is “actively considering” measures to curb net migration
PA
The Prime Ministers official spokesperson said the Government is “actively considering” measures to curb net migration.
But they played down speculation over a package being ready by next week.
The official admitted that net migration to the UK is too high, vowing to leave “no stone unturned” to tackle the issue.
