Conservatives got immigration wrong, says Kemi Badenoch

At a hastily called press conference ahead of Thursday’s new migration figures, Badenoch said “on behalf of the Conservative Party it is right that I, as the new leader, accept responsibility and say truthfully we got it wrong”.

She did not set out what the cap on immigration numbers would be if her party wins the next election.

But she pledged a full review of “every policy, treaty and part of our legal framework” including the role of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act.

The review will also examine migrants’ access to benefits. Migrants on visas and asylum seekers in the UK cannot claim welfare benefits or social housing but can apply for access to public funds in certain circumstances.

Under Badenoch, the Conservatives will advocate for tightening access to British Passports and “zero tolerance” of foreign criminals staying in the UK, she said.

Challenged on why a numerical cap would work under her leadership when past attempts have not, she said past leaders “thought stating a number was enough” and “hoped things would work out”.

When fully set out, her cap would “explain how you get to those numbers”.

She also said that the Conservatives still believed that a “deterrent” was necessary but did not commit to a revival of the Rwanda scheme scrapped by Labour.

Speaking ahead of publication of the latest net migration figures, Badenoch claimed that any fall in numbers would be due to actions taken by the last Conservative government.