May resists call on immigrants

The Home Secretary has resisted further pressure to release official estimates on the number of Romanians and Bulgarians expected to arrive in Britain when restrictions are lifted at the end of the year.

Temporary curbs were imposed on Romanians and Bulgarians in 2005 to protect the British labour market, but they expire in December and under EU laws cannot be extended.

Unofficial research predicts as many as 50,000 people could arrive from the eastern European countries each year.

Theresa May told the home affairs select committee reports suggested it was not possible to produce “reliable” figures.