MPs launch inquiry seeking public views on immigration

Yvette Cooper was elected chair of the home affairs committee in October. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA

A committee of MPs has announced a new and far-reaching inquiry into the public’s view on immigration in the wake of Brexit, in which members will tour the country to seek views directly from the people affected.

The investigation by the home affairs committee was being formally launched on Thursday by its chair, the Labour MP Yvette Cooper.

In advance of the event, Cooper said the inquiry was needed to look into what sort of approach to immigration might be needed as the UK prepared to leave the EU.

“Immigration is one of the most important issues facing our country and will be central to the Brexit deal,” Cooper said in extracts from a launch speech released in advance.

“Britain voted for change, especially on free movement, but there has been very little debate about what kind of reforms or immigration control that should now mean or how we get the best deal for the country.

“Successive governments have failed on immigration and public concern has grown. Yet too often the polarised nature of the debate makes it hard to get consensus over what should be done instead. If there is no consensus behind the most important parts of the Brexit deal, in the end it will unravel.”

Cooper said the committee’s response was “a different kind of inquiry, looking outward at the country, not inward at the government”.

She said: “Instead of just taking evidence in Westminster, we will be travelling round every region and nation, holding public meetings, bringing local people together for debates and discussions, citizen juries and online consultations.”

The committee will also seek to inspire other organisations to run events and debates, including community and faith groups, councils and thinktanks.

She said: “We want to hear people’s views both about immigration and about how they believe that common ground can be found to stop this issue dividing the country.”

Cooper was elected by her fellow MPs to chair the committee in October, taking over from Keith Vaz who resigned the previous month after three days of allegations involving sex workers and drugs.