David Cameron told four years ago UK could not meet immigration target while in EU, Steve Hilton claims

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy David Cameron's former policy guru has claimed the Prime Minister was told four years ago it was "impossible" for the Government to meet its immigration promises if the UK remained in the EU Leave supporter Steve Hilton said civil servants "directly and explicitly" explained the pledge to reduce net migration - which last month hit 333,000 - to the tens of thousands would fail. But Mr Hilton said the premier reaffirmed his commitment to target in the 2015 general election even though he "had been told it was undeliverable". He said: "We were told, directly and explicitly, that it was impossible for the Government to meet its immigration target as long as we remained members of the EU, which of course insists on the free movement of people within it. "In the 2015 Conservative manifesto, the Prime Minister reaffirmed his commitment to the immigration target he had been told was undeliverable.