I will shake up immigration, says PRITI PATEL: Home Secretary bluntly reveals her determination to secure our borders – deal or no deal

People like the biological scientists and biochemists the Migration Advisory Committee recently added to the shortage occupation list, because we desperately need more of them in this country.

We’ll be able to prioritise the people who can and will add significant value to our country.

To do this we will build on the proposals in our White Paper to create a fair new skills-based approach. Where decisions are taken based on what someone can contribute rather than where they come from.

Where those who come fill jobs rather than claiming benefits. And where we’re tougher on those who abuse our hospitality. We will take the Immigration Bill through Parliament to make sure all this can happen.

We’ll give top priority to those with the highest skills and the greatest talents – to attract those who add the most value to our economy. These skilled workers will only be able to come here if they have a job offer from an employer registered with the Home Office, and if they can speak English.

The end of free movement means that we will be able to consider the impact on the existing labour market when determining whether we want unskilled workers from the EU to be able to come to the UK.

Because immigration alone is not the answer. Rather than automatically relying on low-skilled labour from abroad, our new approach means British businesses will have to back our people. They must invest in training, technology and to increase domestic skill levels. We will check all prospective migrants to see if they have a criminal record, to ensure we can exclude those whose past means they’re not welcome here.

And we will ensure we have a strong border to better tackle illegal immigration and to help keep out terrorists, criminals and those that wish to do this country harm.

Change is already on the way. But I will leave no stone unturned to help build our vision of a truly global Britain, and part of that is learning from other countries where things work well.

Politicians have long talked about the benefits of an Australian-style points-based system.

This is a government of action, not empty promises. So I will be urgently commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee – the Government’s independent advisers on immigration matters – to review the system. It will look at elements we can implement to make our system work for the benefit of Britain.