17 May 2023 , 21:30
966
0
Rishi Sunak has backed away from the Tories' election pledge to reduce net migration.
As he flew to Japan for talks with world leaders, the PM was asked three times whether he still stood by the manifesto pledge that "overall numbers will come" down.
At the time of the 2019 election, net migration stood at just over 250,000. Figures are expected to be published next week showing the figure hit 700,000 people last year.
Mr Sunak could only say he wanted to bring "down legal migration" and declined to be drawn on whether he was committed to lowering it from 2019 levels.
He also appeared to blame his predecessors in No10, saying: "I've inherited some numbers, I want to bring the numbers down".
Teachers, civil servants and train drivers walk out in biggest strike in decade
The PM added: "I've said I do want to bring legal migration down. I think illegal migration is undoubtedly the country's priority, and you can see all the work I'm putting into that.
Labour leader Keir Starmer accused the Tories of losing control of immigration (PA)"But on legal migrations we are committed to bringing those numbers down".
It comes after Keir Starmer accused the Tories of losing control of migration last week.
The Labour leader said: "I think we need to wait and see what those figures are, but I've seen that speculation [700,000].
"I think if we're anywhere near that figure it will show the Government has completely lost control. We need a managed approach and we haven't got that."
Mr Sunak is also struggling to deliver on his pledges to voters, including promises to bring down inflation and stop the boats,
And just last week Tory MPs vented their anger as Mr Sunak's Government announced a humiliating U-turn over his plans to shred thousands of EU laws.
Speaking to reporters the PM also claimed he was a "low tax Conservative" despite the public facing the highest tax burden since the Second World War.