Robert Jenrick says there are ‘merits’ to introducing an annual cap on immigration to Britain – despite his Home Office boss James Cleverly dismissing a yearly limit on UK visas as ‘difficult’ to manage

Robert Jenrick today admitted there would be ‘merits’ to introducing an annual cap on the number of people coming to Britain.

The Immigration Minister did not dismiss the prospect of imposing an absolute limit on the number of UK visas issued each year.

His comments appeared to put himself at odds with Home Secretary James Cleverly, his boss in the Home Office, who yesterday batted away Tory calls for a cap.

Mr Cleverly has unveiled a new five-point plan to bring down net migration numbers – aimed at cutting the number of people coming to the UK by around 160,000.

This includes a ban on overseas care workers bringing family dependants and a hiked salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700.

Robert Jenrick admitted there would be ‘merits’ to introducing an annual cap on the number of people coming to Britain

 His comments appeared to put himself at odds with Home Secretary James Cleverly, his boss in the Home Office , who yesterday batted away Tory calls for a cap

Mr Jenrick this morning acknowledged that being able to deliver on pledges to cut immigration was a ‘matter of trust’ for the Tories ahead of the general election.

Net migration hit a record 745,000 in 2022, although it is estimated to have fallen to 672,000 in the year to June 2023.

The Conservatives’ manifesto pledge prior to the 2019 election, made when net migration was around 219,000, was for overall numbers to come down.

Mr Jenrick told Times Radio: ‘I have argued for this package of measures, that we have to meet our manifesto commitment.

‘And that is a matter of trust and ensuring that the democratic will of the public who have voted for parties who sought lower levels of net migration is delivered.’

But during a round of TV and radio interviews, Mr Jenrick acknowledged that ‘more things may need to be done’ to bring down net migration.

He suggested to Sky News that building a ‘more socially cohesive and united country’ was ‘impossible when such large numbers of people are coming into the country’.

Asked if a cap on numbers was a good idea, Mr Jenrick said: ‘There are merits to ideas like that.

‘But what matters now is action. The public wants to see us actually deliver reducing levels of net migration, as I’ve been very clear, that people are sick of talk on this topic.’

Suella Braverman, who was sacked as home secretary by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has led Tory demands for an annual cap on the number of UK visas issued.

In the House of Commons yesterday, Mr Cleverly was quizzed by ex-Cabinet minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg as to whether he believed a ‘cap on the number coming in’ was a ‘good idea’.

The Home Secretary dismissed the idea as ‘difficult’ to manage, replying: ‘Whilst I understand the calls for a cap, in practical terms managing a cap is difficult.

‘We would want to make sure that we are being as generous as possible to the people who contribute to our society and to our economy.

‘And recognise that not every single individual – the difference between a child that would count as one person against a cap or to an investor that may bring a huge number of jobs – they are not the same.

‘We want to be able to make the difference between the two.’

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