Osborne: Brexit Immigration Plan Is 'Fantasy'

Plans to introduce an Australian-style points system of immigration have been unveiled by leading Leave campaigners.

But Chancellor George Osborne said the plans, which amount to an alternative to the Government manifesto on immigration, were "unworkable" and branded them "fantasy politics".

In a statement, Boris Johnson, Justice Secretary Michael Gove, Work and Pensions Minister Priti Patel and Gisela Stuart set out a blueprint in which the right to come to the UK would be based on skills and the ability of immigrants to speak English.

It would end the automatic right of European Union citizens to live and work here.

The statement said: "By the next general election, we will create a genuine Australian-style points-based immigration system."

It says: "To gain the right to work, economic migrants will have to be suitable for the job in question.

"For relevant jobs, we will be able to ensure that all those who come have the ability to speak good English."

The new system would mean no change for Irish citizens or for EU citizens already lawfully resident in the UK.

But Mr Osborne said: "But what a contrast today between the Leave campaign with their fantasy politics, unworkable proposals that will increase immigration, take us out of the single market and cost us jobs, and the reality check in the real world of the highly respected OECD which points out the grim economic future for the UK outside the EU."

The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found the prospect of an EU referendum had already had a negative impact on UK growth and Brexit would have a "significant" impact on the global economy.

:: OECD: Brexit Would Trigger Significant Shock

David Cameron told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Australia has more migration per head than we do here in the UK, so I think it's the wrong approach.

"I also think if we were to say to Europeans they needed work permits to come to Britain, European countries would say to us we need work permits to go and work there," he said.

"So not only would we crash our economy, we'd also reduce opportunities to work in other countries."

Sky data suggests the primary concern for undecided voters is immigration , with 63% of Britons saying it has a negative impact on British culture.

:: EU In or Out: David Cameron Live, Sky News 8pm Thursday, Michael Gove Live 8pm Friday.