A Scottish Government report, published on 7 February, claims that cutting immigration could ‘cost’ Scotland’s economy £10bn per year from 2040. Firstly it should be pointed out that what is characterised as a potential ‘cost’ is not based on a claim that lower immigration would lead to an actual shrinkage in the economy but rather an […]
Commenting, Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “The PM is absolutely right to insist that those who arrive after Brexit should no longer acquire the automatic right to permanent residence. The EU demand is unreasonable. With half a million adult EU citizens registering for a National Insurance number in the UK every year […]
The impacts of international students in the UK Summary The benefits of international students are not in doubt – provided that they are genuine. There has been substantial abuse of the route since 2009 which has now been largely dealt with. The first year of exit checks has shown that 60,000 students extended their stay […]
‘Immigration and Scotland’ Summary points: Scotland’s labour force is much less dependent on migrant workers than most of the rest of the UK. The majority of EU migrants in Scotland are employed in lower skilled jobs. A sample of Scottish employers and industry representatives found that they were ‘emphatic’ that Scotland’s employment needs are not different from the rest of the UK, apart from […]
Commenting, Alp Mehmet, Vice Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “This is a superficial report. It is critical of government failures but tacitly accepts the current level of immigration, with policy recommendations that would see mass immigration continue indefinitely, contrary to very strong public opinion. The call for students to be removed from the net […]
Commenting, Lord Green of Deddington, Chairman of Migration Watch UK, said: “This is a sensible and satisfactory outcome. Importantly, it will not prevent us from achieving a substantial reduction in net migration from the EU once we have left. That must now be the focus of the government’s efforts.” Note to editors: Our view is […]
A comment on Lord Green’s article in Conservative Home on 20 November 2017 about the relevance of an EEA style arrangement for post-Brexit immigration from the EU made no attempt to address the argument. Instead, it contained the following abusive content: “It is perfectly fine and welcome to have rigorous debate about this topic, but […]
It is often noted by the academic lobby that there has been a fall since 2010 in the number of prospective Indian students applying for a visa to study at a UK university. For example, Conservative peer Lord Bilimoria wrote in the Daily Telegraph in August 2017: “The number of Indian students studying in the […]
Speaking to the Confederation of British Industry, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said the free movement of people should continue after Brexit. He has also proposed that the UK’s non-EU immigration rules be loosened – for instance through a lengthening of current post-study work arrangements for international students. In the Mayor’s words: “It’s […]
The government is reportedly considering post-Brexit immigration proposals that would end free movement rules immediately upon the UK’s departure from the EU while gradually bringing in measures to reduce the number of lower-skilled European migrants. However, in an article published on 9th September, Mr Blair argues that ending the free movement of people in order […]