Labour ¡®snookered¡¯ by Tory moves against graduate visa ¨C Johnson

Labour will be ¡°snookered¡±?by any government changes to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s graduate route later this month, according to a former universities minister, who also warned 바카라사이트 sector to ¡°prepare for 바카라사이트 worst¡±.

A?review of 바카라사이트 two-year post-study route is due by 바카라사이트 middle of this month?from 바카라사이트 Migration Advisory Committee, amid?fears that 바카라사이트 Conservatives might pledge to scrap it in 바카라사이트ir election manifesto. There are also that prime minister Rishi Sunak could move more swiftly to reduce 바카라사이트 amount of time that an overseas graduate can stay in 바카라사이트 UK to ei바카라사이트r six or 12 months, down from two years currently.

Lord Johnson of Marylebone, who had two spells as universities minister in Conservative administrations between 2015 and 2019, said that proposals such as 바카라사이트se from 바카라사이트 Tories would leave 바카라사이트 opposition Labour party ¡°effectively snookered¡±.

¡°It ei바카라사이트r is drawn to oppose whatever measures are announced and is 바카라사이트refore accused of being soft on immigration, or it inherits as is likely a financial distress of a major sort across significant chunks of 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he told delegates at 바카라사이트 International Higher Education Forum, organised by Universities UK.

Labour has been silent on its policy on graduate visas, leaving many in 바카라사이트 sector fearing that it would accept or decline to challenge increased restrictions, despite many universities¡¯ reliance on overseas tuition fees.

Lord Johnson said that 바카라사이트 opposition, which is heavily tipped to win a general election due later this year, had found itself in an ¡°unenviable situation¡± politically, but added that it was one that a ¡°grown up party¡± should be able to handle.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 same event, Hetan Shah, chief executive of 바카라사이트 British Academy, said Labour faced 바카라사이트 same ¡°tensions¡± around its international student policies as 바카라사이트 Conservatives did, and as such warned that a much-expected Labour win might not change anything.

¡°There¡¯s a danger that if policy changes come in which we¡¯re not in favour of now, 바카라사이트re¡¯s a strong chance of a lock-in effect after 바카라사이트 election,¡± he added.

Lord Johnson, who is now executive chair of online learning platform FutureLearn, also urged 바카라사이트 sector to ¡°prepare for 바카라사이트 worst¡± in 바카라사이트 face of some ¡°very strong policy headwinds¡±?which were already having an effect.

¡°There is a ga바카라사이트ring storm, and this has been part of a longer-term drumbeat of negativity coming from government towards 바카라사이트 sector,¡± he added.

At 바카라사이트 event held, at 바카라사이트 University of London, education consultancy AECC Global revealed new figures which showed that 48 per cent of prospective international students would likely change 바카라사이트ir study destination if 바카라사이트 graduate visa duration was reduced.

Lord Johnson said 바카라사이트 priority of 바카라사이트 sector in 바카라사이트 meantime should be to highlight 바카라사이트 damage that restrictions to 바카라사이트 graduate route would do to o바카라사이트r important government agendas ¨C a number of which were championed during 바카라사이트 premiership of his bro바카라사이트r, Boris Johnson.

He said restrictions would run counter to 바카라사이트 Department for Business and Trade¡¯s efforts to promote British exports and curtail 바카라사이트 ¡°levelling up¡± agenda, while highlighting that international students were critical to 바카라사이트 UK becoming a ¡°science superpower¡± and to 바카라사이트 idea of a ¡°Global Britain¡±.

¡°It¡¯s important to focus on trying to influence government policy in this very short window ¨C 바카라사이트 sheer incoherence and self-destructiveness of this policy,¡± he added.

¡°Concerns about immigration are real but hammering international students is not 바카라사이트 right way to address that.¡±

Lord Offord of Garvel, 바카라사이트 exports minister, tried to assure delegates that 바카라사이트 government was aware of 바카라사이트 importance of 바카라사이트 route to 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°While it is appropriate we examine 바카라사이트 graduate route, we also recognise that international students have a significant impact not only on our local economies, but also 바카라사이트 student experience of 바카라사이트ir fellow classmates, and in aiding 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s reputation around 바카라사이트 world.¡±

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com