THE UK Government’s immigration policy has been branded “a shambles” after Brandon Lewis, the Immigration Minister, made clear that free movement of labour would end the moment Britain left the European Union in March 2019.

While there now seems to be a consensus within the UK Cabinet that there will be a need for a transitional or implementation period for up to three years in terms of trade, Mr Lewis made clear this would not be the case with regards to immigration.

Noting how freedom of movement was one of the "core principles" of the EU, he declared: “Free movement of labour ends when we leave the European Union in the spring of 2019; we're very clear about that."

Asked why free trade and single market access would not also end then, the minister replied: "There's a period of negotiation we're going through with the European Union at the moment but we're very clear that free movement ends - it's part of the core principles, the four key principles, of the European Union - when we leave."

Pressed on whether it was a red line to end free movement in March 2019, Mr Lewis said: "It's a simple matter of fact that the four key principles of the European Union include free movement; we won't be a member of the European Union when we leave."

His comments came after Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, in Scotland today, announced she was commissioning the Migration Advisory Committee[MAC] to carry out a detailed analysis of the role of EU nationals in the UK economy and society.

But Labour’s Pat McFadden, a former Europe minister, speaking on behalf of Open Britain, the group that campaigns to keep close ties with the EU, said: “This is a shambles.

“Only hours after the Home Secretary announces there will be no cliff edge when we leave the EU, her Immigration Minister announces a definite end to freedom of movement from March 2019.

“If this line stands it would rule out freedom of movement during any transition period and in all likelihood rule out continued single market membership during a transition too. Ministers must now tell us what the economic impact of that would be,” declared the Midlands MP.

“This morning’s announcement throws a grenade into attempts to reassure the country that there will be no Brexit cliff edge. Yesterday, it was a row about chicken; now it’s immigration. Ministers are contradicting one another by the hour. The country needs good leadership during this crucial period. It is certainly not getting it,” added the Scot.

Mr Lewis explained how Britain would have a completely new immigration system in place from the spring of 2019 and that this would be outlined in an Immigration Bill that will go through Parliament next year.

He also told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it remained the Government's "long-term aim" to bring immigration down to "sustainable levels", ie the tens of thousands, but did not say when this would be achieved.

"[It is] our determination to see net migration fall to sustainable levels and that is around tens of thousands; it's something we've had and continue to have as our long-term aim."

Mr Lewis would not confirm if the target would be reached in this Parliament, noting: "If this was an easy thing to do we would have already done it. We cannot, people know, control our net migration levels fully until we leave the European Union."

Senior Labour backbencher Frank Field told the same programme Mr Lewis's comments were "alarming", saying: "I genuinely don't think voters are looking for a cut-off point and will judge the Government accordingly.

"Trump won in America on immigration - not because most people believed he would build a wall, but he convinced people that he was serious about trying to cut the numbers of immigrants no matter how long it took and that's where the British electorate is and that's where the Government ought to start to begin its negotiations." he added.

The in-depth study by MAC will focus on patterns of migration from Europe, considering factors including regional distribution, skill levels and seasonal workers.

Ms Rudd said any new post-Brexit immigration system must work in everyone's interest.

"Put simply, the UK must remain a hub for international talent. We must keep attracting the brightest and best migrants from around the world.

"I want to reassure all those who have outlined their views...that the Government is listening and that we share their desire to continue to welcome those who help make the UK such a prosperous place to live," she said.

Advisers will be tasked with examining issues such as the economic and social costs and benefits of EU migration and the potential impact of any fall in arrivals from the bloc.

The committee will be asked to report back by September next year; just seven months before the scheduled date for Britain's formal departure in March 2019.

It will be invited to produce interim reports before giving its final findings as officials attempt to draw up a regime that incorporates an end to free movement while ensuring any fall in overseas labour does not damage the UK’s economy.

Meanwhile on a visit to Australia, Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, stressed the “value of having an open approach” to immigration.

Speaking at a press conference in Sydney, he said: "As a society, as a city of London, we benefited massively from having talent come to our shores. We benefit from a large Australian population, we had 400,000 French people living in London when I was mayor.

"It is fantastic for the energy and dynamism of the economy...That doesn't mean you can't control it; that is people want to see.

"They want to see their politicians taking responsibility, explaining the policy, explaining what they are trying to do, explaining who can come in on what basis and why it's good for the economy."

He added: "There are things we could do to reduce some aspects of immigration whilst keeping a posture that is open and attractive to talent. I would be very, very surprised if any report says otherwise."

But Labour’s Diane Abbott argued there was far too much heat and not enough light about immigration but said any truly objective and well-informed analysis had to be welcomed.

"We already know that immigrants, both EU and non-EU, make a huge contribution to the economy and to wider society,” declared the Shadow Home Secretary.

“They occupy both high-skilled, high-wage jobs and lower-skilled, lower-paid ones, adding value across a wide range of economic sectors. They help make the UK more internationally competitive, and sectors with staff shortages, such as the NHS, social care and agriculture, would be in serious difficulty without them.”

She added: "The report should be published. There must be no repeat of the buried Home Office reports into international students, or the Saudi funding of terrorism. And there should be no attempt to reform the immigration system until the report has been published and debated."