Home Secretary Priti Patel pledged wholesale reform of the UK’s “broken” immigration system as she unveiled plans for a “fully digital border” within five years.
In a keynote speech on Monday, Ms Patel vowed to deliver a system that works for the “law-abiding majority” and against those who seek to “abuse our hospitality and generous spirit”.
She also launched the US-style Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which requires visitors to the UK to obtain an electronic permit before travelling.
This would make the border more secure, with automatic checks allowing the Government to “count people in and count people out” of the country, providing a “far clearer picture of who is here, and whether they should be”, she said, adding: “And we will act when they are not.”