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David Cameron 'can't meet his pledges on migration,' poll shows

 
David Cameron’s flagship pledge to slash immigration is unlikely to succeed, the public said when asked in a poll
Joe Murphy Political Editor|Mark Leftly
14 November 2014

David Cameron’s flagship pledge to slash immigration is unlikely to succeed, according to three-quarters of the British public, an exclusive poll shows today.

Barely one person in five thinks he will meet his vow to cut the number of migrants to the “tens of thousands”, Ipsos MORI discovered.

The finding will ring alarm bells at No 10, as it comes just weeks before the Prime Minister is due to make a keynote speech on the issue as part of his fight to stop voters defecting to Ukip.

The research also found there is deep scepticism about whether Mr Cameron can deliver on his ambition to curb the free movement of EU workers into Britain — which is a critical roadblock to migration controls.

Only 20 per cent think he can strike a deal that will allow the UK to turn some European citizens away at its borders. Of these, just two per cent feel “very confident” he can achieve it.

The overwhelming majority, 73 per cent, are doubtful. Almost four in 10 are “not at all” confident.

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Britons are slightly less pessimistic about Mr Cameron’s chances of securing a good deal in Europe in wider negotiations. Just over a quarter think he can, but almost seven in 10 are still unconvinced.

With the Tories fearing more defections if they are trounced by Ukip in next week’s Rochester and Strood by-election, Mr Cameron badly needs to convince people he can take control of Britain’s borders.

Today he reinforced a warning sounded in Berlin by Sir John Major, who said Britain could be driven to leave the EU unless German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders give concessions on free movement.

Mr Cameron backed his predecessor’s “very clear” and “excellent” speech.

“It’s very powerful that a former prime minister, a very respected politician with a long track record of negotiations with Europe, felt it necessary to make this speech in these terms so clearly,” he said. “[The EU] needs to address Britain’s concerns about immigration with the European Union. I agree with what he says.”

Bobby Duffy, head of Ipsos MORI’s Social Research Institute, said: “A lot hangs on confidence in the PM to deliver controls on both EU freedom of movement and overall immigrant numbers. Currently the majority of the public — and more importantly, the majority of Conservative supporters — are not convinced.”