Mass immigration brings close to zero economic benefits - Theresa May

Speaking to a party conference in Manchester, May said she believed mass immigration weighed on public services like hospitals and schools, hurt wages and led to higher unemployment.

"When immigration is too high, when the pace of change is too fast, it's impossible to build a cohesive society," May said.

While May’s remarks were supported by party activists, employers' group the Institute of Directors criticised her views.

"We are astonished by the irresponsible rhetoric and pandering to anti-immigration sentiment from the Home Secretary," its director Simon Walker said.

"It is yet another example of the Home Secretary turning away the world’s best and brightest, putting internal party politics ahead of the country."

The UK’s net migration reached 330,000 people in the year to March, with more than half coming from the EU.

The abundance of migrants coming from the EU has been seen as a major issue in the lead up to the UK’s referendum on its membership in the bloc.

Prime Minister Cameron earlier admitted he had missed his target of reducing immigration to “tens of thousands”.

He added that the government needed to reform its welfare system so migrants did not receive instant access when they arrive.