Spoke in House of Commons on cutting net legal migration
Last summer I published a plan to cut net legal migration significantly. I set out 11 clear proposals that could slash the numbers to levels the majority of the British public would be far more comfortable with.
A majority of my proposals have now been adopted by the Government. The income threshold for getting a visa here has been increased significantly. The ability for international students to bring dependents has also been curtailed. Just recently the Government announced that those coming here on Health and Care Worker visas also won’t be able to bring dependents.
The issue is that understandably people’s confidence in the system has been eroded, to such an extent that it is crucial we see the evidence and data that these new measures are significantly cutting immigration into our country. I asked the Minister today to bring that evidence to the House as soon as possible so we can prove that things are decisively heading in the right direction.
There is ample evidence that the Health and Care Worker visas and the Student visas have been abused by many. I have seen evidence of this. The solution to challenges with social care staffing should be to increase pay and increase its status. There is also a lot of evidence of poorly preforming Universities propping up their finances through the international student route. Sometimes it seems like they are selling immigration more than education.
I have and always will campaign tirelessly on this issue as I know how strongly so many of my constituents feel about it. As do I.