Addressing the CBI Conference tomorrow (Monday) in London Prime
Minister is expected to say:
“We now have an intense week of negotiations ahead of us in the
run-up to the special European Council on Sunday.
“During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final
details of the framework that will underpin our future
relationship and I am confident that we can strike a deal at the
council that I can take back to the House of Commons.
“The core elements of that deal are already in place. The
Withdrawal Agreement has been agreed in full, subject of course
to final agreement being reached on the future framework.
“That Agreement is a good one for the UK. It fulfils the wishes
of the British people as expressed in the 2016 referendum. I have
always had a very clear sense of the outcomes I wanted to deliver
for people in these negotiations.
“Control over our borders, by bringing an end to free movement,
once and for all.
“Control of our money, so we can decide for ourselves how to
spend it, and can do so on priorities like our NHS.
“Control of our laws, by ending the jurisdiction of the European
Court of Justice in the United Kingdom and ensuring that our laws
are made and enforced here in this country.
“Getting us out of those EU programmes that do not work in our
interests, like the Common Agricultural Policy and Common
Fisheries Policy.”
Specifically on immigration, the Prime Minister is expected to
add:
“Getting back full control of our borders is an issue of great
importance to the British people. The United Kingdom is a country
that values the contribution that immigration has made to our
society and economy over many years.
“And in the future, outside the EU, immigration will continue to
make a positive contribution to our national life.
“But the difference will be this: once we have left the EU, we
will be fully in control of who comes here.
“It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of
the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue
ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi.
Instead of a system based on where a person is from, we will have
one that is built around the talents and skills a person has to
offer.
“Not only will this deliver on the verdict of the referendum. It
should lead to greater opportunity for young people in this
country to access training and skilled employment.
“We want an immigration system for the future that everyone can
have confidence in. Yes, a system that works for business. One
that allows us to attract the brightest and the best from around
the world, more streamlined application and entry processes.
“And we are already talking action in that regard, introducing
e-gates for visitors from the USA, Japan, Australia, New Zealand,
and Canada.
“But it also needs to command the confidence of the public by
putting them in control of who comes to this country. That is
what I am determined to deliver, and I look forward to working
with you to achieve it.”
