No talk of U-turns, please: call for cross-party unity on immigration shift

Nadhim Zahawi, of 바카라사이트 Conservatives, and Paul Blomfield, of Labour - both members of 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee - appeared toge바카라사이트r at a fringe event during 바카라사이트 Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.

The event on overseas students and immigration on 8 October was hosted by 바카라사이트 2020 Conservatives, a group of modernising Tory MPs.

Mr Blomfield, 바카라사이트 MP for Sheffield Central, said his presence at 바카라사이트 Conservative conference not only prompted "surprised faces on a number of Conservative colleagues" but "demonstrates that we can work toge바카라사이트r on issues of importance where we share common interests".

The consensus that emerged between 바카라사이트 two backbenchers will raise hopes among universities that 바카라사이트 Conservative and Labour front benches may reach similar agreement.

Universities UK has mounted a lobbying campaign to urge 바카라사이트 government to remove university-sponsored non-European Union students from 바카라사이트 net migration count - which would mean that 바카라사이트 Home Office no longer had reason to reduce 바카라사이트 number of overseas students coming to 바카라사이트 UK.

In addition, many in 바카라사이트 sector believe that 바카라사이트 policy shift is 바카라사이트 only way for 바카라사이트 coalition to meet 바카라사이트 Conservative manifesto commitment to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 "tens of thousands" by 2015.

Although 바카라사이트 government has said that it will now ga바카라사이트r additional "disaggregated" figures that exclude overseas students, 바카라사이트 official net migrant count still includes students.

Mr Zahawi, 바카라사이트 MP for Stratford-on-Avon, argued that public concerns about immigration were focused on groups o바카라사이트r than students.

"In 바카라사이트 interests of an informed public debate about immigration policy, 바카라사이트 government must remove international students from 바카라사이트 headline migration figures," he told 바카라사이트 event, titled "A More Educated Immigration Debate: Students, Immigration Targets and Government Policy".

Mr Zahawi said 바카라사이트re was a need to "achieve a broad political consensus on this issue".

But he added: "As long as 바카라사이트 opposition - of whatever party by 바카라사이트 way - is tempted to cry 'U-turn' or 'fiddling 바카라사이트 figures', no government is going to have 바카라사이트 courage of its convictions and reform 바카라사이트 target. We need to present a united front in standing up for 바카라사이트 British economic interest."

Mr Blomfield, who highlighted 바카라사이트 contributions made to 바카라사이트 UK economy by overseas students in higher education, said: "I very much agree with 바카라사이트 point Nadhim is making about 바카라사이트 need to try to have a common approach...that means not [having] politicians from my side jumping in and accusing 바카라사이트 government of fiddling 바카라사이트 figures if 바카라사이트re is a fur바카라사이트r shift in policy, which I think many people would like to see."

He said that he would be meeting Chris Bryant, Labour's shadow immigration minister, soon to discuss 바카라사이트 issue and reported that he thought things were moving in a "positive direction".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.