May said the system proposed by Johnson, who campaigned hard to leave the European Union, was no "silver bullet." Instead, the former home secretary is considering blocking all EU migrants from entering the UK unless they have a job.
This, according to Mrs. May is how she anticipates regaining "control" of Britain's immigration system.
"What the British people voted for on the 23rd June was to bring some control into the movement of people from the European Union to the UK. A points-based system does not give you that control," she said during a speech at the G20 Summit in China…[it] means people come in automatically if they just meet the criteria," Mrs. May said.
Mrs. May instead wants the government to decide who comes into the country — not a points system.
However, government critic and staunch "Vote Leave" campaigner Nigel Farage suggested that "watering down" any immigration system "will lead to real anger."
Theresa May's track record on immigration as Home Secretary was appalling. Her comments rejecting an Australian-style points system worry me
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) September 5, 2016
"The people were clear in wanting a points-based immigration system, which is why so many went out and voted to leave the European Union. Any watering down from that will lead to real anger," the PM added.
For many Brexiteers, taking back control means a stricter immigration system and it was with such anti-migrant rhetoric that thrust the Leave campaign into the lead, led by politicians including Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson, both purporting the Australian based points system.
Farage xenophobia,bogus claims about “sovereignty”, and ill-judged bleating about “Brussels”,Johnson lies got us into the Brexit mess.
— Arthur O'Connor (@Chantepoule) August 21, 2016
However Prime Minster Theresa May, who campaigned to remain in the European Union has distanced herself from the points system, saying it should be for the government, not a set of criteria, to decide who comes in or out of the UK.
Needless to say — as Home Secretary — Theresa May wanted "to create a hostile environment" for illegal immigrants which included landlords checking passports and immigration status of all prospective tenants, and "Go Home" vans which were driven around the country.
Before there was Nigel Farage's 'Breaking Point' poster there was this from Theresa May #Brexit pic.twitter.com/G3fzm8dVa0
— Stryker McGuire (@StrykerMcGuire) June 30, 2016
Speaking recently in the House of Commons, David Davis MP said the government's post-Brexit immigration system would be "more rigorous" than a points-based system.
(1/2) The biggest issue over coming years will be managing Brexit, improving UK trade position, controlling borders and enhancing democracy
— David Davis MP (@DavidDavisMP) June 29, 2016
However, it remains to be seen what "taking back control" really means?
#Immigration. I don't care if we have points system. Migration Watch say there are better ways.
— Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) September 6, 2016
I just want the #UK to have control, not #EU
