Home Secretary Amber Rudd, announced plans to compel companies to draw up lists of foreign workers and Minister for International Trade Liam Fox admitted that EU citizens living in the UK are a "bargaining chip" in Brexit negotiations.
In response to this, the statement from the three left-of-center parties argues that the Brexit result has been used "as an excuse for the most toxic rhetoric on immigration we have seen from any government in living memory."
"This is not a time for parties to play games, or meekly respect the tired convention whereby they do not break cover during each other's conferences," the statement reads.
It's time to work together to resist the Tories' toxic politics. Our joint statement: https://t.co/fcU0gRIQcS #CPC16 pic.twitter.com/1iVEl0fzUx
— Caroline Lucas (@CarolineLucas) October 5, 2016
"It is an occasion for us to restate the importance of working together to resist the Tories' toxic politics, and make the case for a better future for our people and communities. We will do this by continuing to work and campaign with the fierce sense of urgency this political moment demands."
First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, headed up the signatories on the statement, followed by Jonathan Bartley and Caroline Lucas, co-leaders of the Green Party, Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru, Steven Agnew, leader of the Green Party of Northern Ireland, Patrick Harvie, co-convener of the Scottish Green Party and Alice Hooker-Stroud, leader of the Wales Green Party.
We seem to have woken up with a UKIP government. Depressing doesn't even begin to cover it. pic.twitter.com/O8DYc6smdE
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) October 5, 2016
The Green Party have been at the forefront of attempts to call for a "progressive alliance" to take on the Conservative government at Westminster.
The party's co-leader Caroline Lucas added: "This conference has seen them attempt to inflame tensions in our communities and set out a vision for a 'hard brexit' that will do untold damage to the places we represent. By uniting we have the best chance of facing them down and protecting the people who elected us."
We refuse to be silent on Tories toxic politics & immigration rhetorics. UK Green Parties joint statement with @theSNP & @Plaid_Cymru #CPC16 pic.twitter.com/5EnMRcwalG
— Green Party (@TheGreenParty) October 5, 2016
The statements hint at a growing divide in British politics on the issue of immigration. Prime Minister Theresa May told the conference that controls on immigration will be prioritized in the Brexit negotiations with the EU, which are expected to begin in early 2017.
