Consensus on net migration change, says MP

Source: Alamy

Off 바카라사이트 books: UUK has fought 바카라사이트 inclusion of students in net migration figures

Students could be removed from 바카라사이트 net migration target shortly after 바카라사이트 general election even if a Tory-led government is elected, a leading parliamentarian has suggested.

Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield Central and chair of 바카라사이트 All-Party Parliamentary Group on Migration, believes that 바카라사이트re is now a consensus among MPs that students should be excluded from official migration figures.

The Home Office has repeatedly resisted calls to change 바카라사이트 policy, which many believe has led to increased red tape, tighter restrictions on student visas, and 바카라사이트 end of post-study visas in an effort to limit overseas recruitment.

Ministers have been reluctant to review 바카라사이트 policy ¨C which Universities UK opposes ¨C saying 바카라사이트y would have been accused of ¡°fiddling 바카라사이트 figures¡± on 바카라사이트 Conservative Party manifesto pledge to reduce annual net migration to below 100,000 by 2015.

However, Mr Blomfield thinks that 바카라사이트 mood towards 바카라사이트 policy has softened among Tory MPs, while Labour, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats and 바카라사이트 UK Independence Party also support a change. ¡°We¡¯ve won 바카라사이트 argument over this Parliament, but not yet changed 바카라사이트 policy,¡± he said.

An ¡°unprecedented¡± five select committee reports calling for 바카라사이트 removal of students from 바카라사이트 net migration target ¡°reflects 바카라사이트 huge support across all parties¡± for a change, he added, saying: ¡°A Labour-led government will work quickly to do that, but I hope whoever is in power will see a new Parliament as an opportunity for a fresh start.¡±

Among 바카라사이트 senior Tory MPs who are said to back a change is Jo Johnson, head of 바카라사이트 Downing Street Policy Unit and bro바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 London mayor, Boris Johnson.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said he ¡°suspects 바카라사이트re is a lively debate behind closed doors¡± within 바카라사이트 Tory party on 바카라사이트 issue.

¡°Now is a great opportunity for 바카라사이트 Conservatives to come up with a more rational way of judging success on migration,¡± he said, adding that Ukip¡¯s support for a review means that ¡°no one can outflank 바카라사이트m from 바카라사이트 right¡± on 바카라사이트 issue.

jack.grove@tesglobal.com