Theresa May interview: 'no guarantee immigration will be significantly lower after Brexit'

Theresa May’s interview with Andrew Neil revealed several significant things about the government’s approach to Brexit. Tellingly, May wouldn’t rule out free movement and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice continuing during any Brexit ‘implementation period’. This eases the way for a transitional deal, as the EU is likely to insist on both of these things applying—at least, in some form—during any transition period. Though, it does raise the prospect of the government having to go into the next general election with free movement ongoing

There was another olive branch to EU capitals in May’s refusal to rule out preferential treatment for EU migrants post-Brexit. The EU is very keen to ensure that any UK/EU free trade agreement gives EU nationals preferential access to the UK labour market. But several members of May’s Cabinet, most notably Boris Johnson, have been clear that they want equal treatment for EU and non-EU citizens post-Brexit.