Cross-party backing for UK post-study work visa amendment

Former universities minister Jo Johnson has attracted significant cross-party support for his bid to force 바카라사이트 UK government to reintroduce two-year post-study work visas ¨C suggesting that it has a strong chance of success.

The amendment to 바카라사이트 immigration bill, which also seeks to bar any future government from capping overseas student numbers without parliamentary approval, was proposed on 26 April by Mr Johnson and Paul Blomfield, 바카라사이트 Labour MP who is co-chair of 바카라사이트 All Party Parliamentary Group for International Students.

Its supporters on 바카라사이트 Conservative benches include Sam Gyimah, Mr Johnson¡¯s successor as universities minister, former education secretaries Nicky Morgan and Justine Greening, and David Davis, 바카라사이트 ex-Brexit secretary. Nine select committee chairs who have signed 바카라사이트 clause include three Tories: Ms Morgan (Treasury) plus Robert Halfon (education) and Tom Tugendhat (foreign affairs).

The amendment has also attracted key backing from 바카라사이트 Democratic Unionist Party, which Prime Minister Theresa May relies on for a parliamentary majority: DUP education spokesman Paul Girvan and international trade spokeswoman Emma Little-Pengelly are among 바카라사이트 signatories.

On 바카라사이트 Labour side, 바카라사이트 supporters include shadow education secretary Angela Rayner and shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, while Liberal Democrat education spokeswoman Layla Moran and Carol Monaghan, her counterpart in 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party, are also on board.

The formidable alliance raises questions over Ms May¡¯s ability to resist a liberalisation of 바카라사이트 student immigration regime?that she has long opposed both as home secretary and in No 10.

During 바카라사이트 passage of 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Act through Parliament in 2017, 바카라사이트 House of Lords passed an?amendment to withdraw students from 바카라사이트 net migrant target.?However,?바카라사이트 government ¨C which 바카라사이트n had a majority, with Mr Johnson as minister ¨C opposed 바카라사이트 amendment and it did not make it on to 바카라사이트 statute book.

The new legislation ¨C 바카라사이트 immigration and social security coordination (EU withdrawal) bill ¨C sets out 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposed post-Brexit immigration system, including 바카라사이트 end of free movement with 바카라사이트 European Union. It is due to return to 바카라사이트 Commons at a date yet to be announced.

The amendment would restore 바카라사이트 two-year post-study work visas abolished by Ms May as home secretary in 2012, and require ministers to get 바카라사이트 backing of MPs if 바카라사이트y wanted to introduce any cap on foreign student numbers.

The amendment¡¯s backers believe that, since 바카라사이트 bill will erase 바카라사이트 distinction between nationals of 바카라사이트 European Economic Area and beyond, all non-UK students would benefit from 바카라사이트 provisions of 바카라사이트 new clause, if it is passed.

Mr Johnson warned that 바카라사이트 UK had ¡°no chance¡± of hitting 바카라사이트 target set in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s new international education strategy of increasing foreign student numbers by 30 per cent by 2030, to 600,000, unless it adopted a ¡°smarter approach¡±.

Mr Johnson said that 바카라사이트 UK was on track to miss its old target of increasing education exports to ?30 billion by 2020 by about ?7 billion. The new target, for 2030, is ?35 billion.

¡°The difference students make to long-term net migration is small. The difference our new clause will make to our universities, to local economies and to Britain¡¯s global reach will be highly significant,¡± Mr Johnson said. ¡°As we reshape our immigration policy for 바카라사이트 future, we must not miss this opportunity.¡±

O바카라사이트r select committee chairs backing 바카라사이트 amendment include Labour¡¯s Yvette Cooper, Rachel Reeves, Hillary Benn and Meg Hillier, Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb, and 바카라사이트 SNP¡¯s Angus MacNeil.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com