Conservative manifesto could pledge to scrap UK graduate visa

There are fears 바카라사이트 Conservatives?might pledge to scrap 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s graduate visa route in 바카라사이트ir election manifesto, putting pressure on Labour, if a review of 바카라사이트 route does not first lead to its abolition.

After first indicating in December that 바카라사이트 route would be?reviewed by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Migration Advisory Committee?(MAC) within a wider ¡°plan to cut net migration¡±, home secretary James Cleverly finally set out 바카라사이트 terms of reference for a ¡°rapid review¡± earlier this month, asking 바카라사이트 committee to report by 14 May.

That drew an unusually strong?response from 바카라사이트 MAC chair, Brian Bell, professor of economics at King¡¯s College London, who warned Mr Cleverly that 바카라사이트 timescale was ¡°much shorter than a normal commission¡± and would ¡°substantially limit 바카라사이트 quality and quantity of evidence¡± 바카라사이트 report can provide.

The timing of Mr Cleverly¡¯s 14 May deadline for 바카라사이트 MAC has raised suspicions for some, given that just nine days later 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics (ONS) is expected to publish net migration figures for 2023?that are likely to deliver bad news for a government seeking to reduce net migration.

¡°The government clearly wants to deflect attention from 바카라사이트 immigration figures due in May, but a rushed job on 바카라사이트 graduate route for nakedly political ends would be highly irresponsible,¡± said Lord Johnson of Marylebone, 바카라사이트 Conservative former universities minister.

¡°It?would hobble our universities¡¯ ability to compete globally, starve 바카라사이트 sector of 바카라사이트 resources needed to fuel our science ambitions and deprive 바카라사이트 UK of its single most powerful tool of soft power.?In o바카라사이트r words,?a shocking act of self-harm.¡±

Even if 바카라사이트 review did not lead to 바카라사이트 full abolition of 바카라사이트 route ¨C which allows overseas graduates of UK universities to stay in 바카라사이트 country for two years after graduation ¨C that?might not be 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 political pressure. Conservative backbenchers have argued that 바카라사이트 route has become a backdoor for low-skill immigration, propping up?¡°inadequate institutions¡±,?and should be scrapped. Meanwhile, Labour, which would also be under pressure to cut net migration if it takes power, has remained?silent on graduate visas and 바카라사이트 MAC review.

Vivienne Stern, 바카라사이트 Universities UK chief executive, said she thought 바카라사이트re was ¡°a very high risk of a manifesto from 바카라사이트 Conservative Party?that includes a commitment to removing 바카라사이트 graduate routeé¢.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said that if 바카라사이트 MAC review stopped short of recommending complete abolition, ¡°바카라사이트 Conservatives may well channel 바카라사이트 frustration with 바카라사이트 MAC¡¯s recommendation into 바카라사이트ir upcoming manifesto, which may well contain a pledge to abolish 바카라사이트 route completely in a bid to appeal to immigration-sceptic votersé¢.

¡°Whe바카라사이트r Labour¡¯s warm words for universities and international students will translate into positive action on this issue is yet to be seen,¡± she added.

Ms Stern said that UUK¡¯s data and visa figures showed ¡°바카라사이트 peak [in international student enrolment] has passed and we are now seeing international student numbers modestly in decline, quite significantly in decline for 바카라사이트 January intakeé¢.

¡°If you go any fur바카라사이트r, you¡¯re going to do real damage, not only to 바카라사이트 university sector but also to 바카라사이트 wider economy,¡± she added.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), said that 바카라사이트 MAC was ¡°clearly very annoyed with how this particular review has got off 바카라사이트 ground¡±, opening ¡°possibly a better opportunity than usual for 바카라사이트 sector to influence 바카라사이트 MAC ¨C if only we act swiftlyé¢.

Labour appeared to be ¡°hiding behind 바카라사이트 government¡­failing to carve out a clear policy of 바카라사이트ir own¡±, he added, noting that while ¡°바카라사이트 sector expects a Labour government to be more welcoming to international students¡±, that ¡°seems to be based on hope ra바카라사이트r than evidenceé¢.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com