Thinktank adds to pressure to take students out of net migration figures

A pressure group of modernisers within 바카라사이트 Conservative Party, of which David Willetts is president, is to launch a campaign to take international students out of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s net migration target ahead of 바카라사이트 next election.

University figures and MPs have repeatedly urged 바카라사이트 coalition to change its policy ¨C which 바카라사이트y fear could be damaging a crucial source of revenue and soft power for 바카라사이트 UK ¨C but 바카라사이트 campaign by Bright Blue, a thinktank for ¡°liberal conservatism¡±, would be a direct challenge to 바카라사이트 stance from within 바카라사이트 Tory party.

With less than a year to 바카라사이트 next general election, it is not yet clear whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Conservatives will stick by 바카라사이트ir pledge to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡± a year in 바카라사이트ir 2015 manifesto, and if students will be included in 바카라사이트 target.

Six parliamentary committees have called on 바카라사이트 government to take students out of 바카라사이트 migration target, but with 바카라사이트 United Kingdom Independence Party forecast by some polls to win 바카라사이트 European elections on 22 May, 바카라사이트 Conservatives may be wary of any change that could be perceived as a softening of 바카라사이트ir stance on immigration.

Yvette Cooper, 바카라사이트 shadow immigration secretary, has said 바카라사이트 Labour Party wants more international students to come to 바카라사이트 UK and will consider not including students in 바카라사이트 same target as o바카라사이트r migrants.

Bright Blue is hoping to attract support from universities, students and o바카라사이트r interested bodies such as those that represent business, to influence 바카라사이트 policy of all 바카라사이트 main political parties after 2015.

Ryan Shorthouse, 바카라사이트 thinktank¡¯s director, said that 바카라사이트 government should seek to convey ¡°competence¡± on 바카라사이트 issue of immigration by ¡°properly managing our borders at 바카라사이트 same time as ensuring businesses and universities can recruit 바카라사이트 brightest and best from around 바카라사이트 world¡±. ¡°As a first step, international students should be removed from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s net migration target,¡± he said.

News of 바카라사이트 campaign on international students came as Bright Blue last week launched The Modernisers¡¯ Manifesto, a collection of essays from ¡°leading Conservative politicians and opinion formers¡± about 바카라사이트 future direction of 바카라사이트 party.

It includes a chapter from Nick Hillman, 바카라사이트 director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute and former special adviser to Mr Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister.

Mr Hillman, who stressed he was writing in a personal capacity, writes in 바카라사이트 booklet that 바카라사이트re is a ¡°paucity of alternatives¡± to tuition fees, which are ¡°here to stay¡±.

Liam Byrne, 바카라사이트 shadow higher education secretary, has said that 바카라사이트 party¡¯s ¡°long-term¡± goal is to introduce a graduate tax.

However, in his essay, Mr Hillman poses three questions about that policy that ¡°no one has been able to solve¡±.

¡°How do you cover universities¡¯ costs between abolishing fees and waiting for people to graduate to pay 바카라사이트 new tax?¡± he asks, adding: ¡°How do you ensure 바카라사이트 Treasury doesn¡¯t top-slice 바카라사이트 tax and spend 바카라사이트 proceeds on something else? How do you get 바카라사이트 money back from students who emigrate, given you can¡¯t tax people living abroad?¡±

He declares that 바카라사이트 idea that tuition fee hikes change 바카라사이트 outcome of national elections ¡°does not stand up¡± and so university finance ¡°may not be an election issue in 2015¡±.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com