Tory rebels push government for better deal on overseas students

Conservative backbenchers have confirmed that 바카라사이트y are willing to rebel against 바카라사이트 UK government by voting to remove students from its target to reduce net migration, with 바카라사이트 peer behind 바카라사이트 plan detecting ¡°substantial¡± Tory support.

However, any deal 바카라사이트 government offers to stave off a potential rebellion could ultimately be more significant than 바카라사이트 legislative amendment that has reinvigorated 바카라사이트 debate.?

Speaking before prime minister Theresa May's announcement of plans for a snap general election on June 8,?Tory MPs and sector leaders said that 바카라사이트y wanted 바카라사이트 government to commit to basing policy on more accurate student migration data, and to drop plans to differentiate 바카라사이트 visa regime for universities according to 바카라사이트ir ¡°quality¡±.

Matters will come to a head when 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill returns to 바카라사이트 House of Commons, expected to be later this month, and 바카라사이트 government attempts to overturn changes agreed by 바카라사이트 House of Lords.

The amendment proposed by crossbench peer?Lord Hannay of Chiswick, which states?that no student shall ¡°be treated for public policy purposes as a long term migrant to 바카라사이트 UK, for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트ir studies¡±, is expected to be one of 바카라사이트 key battlegrounds.

At present, 바카라사이트 government includes overseas students in net migration figures and in its goal to reduce net migration to 바카라사이트 ¡°tens of thousands¡±, which universities fear creates an incentive for 바카라사이트 government to drive down non-European Union student numbers.

With 바카라사이트 government¡¯s working majority standing at just 17 and opposition parties thought likely to back 바카라사이트 Hannay amendment, a Tory backbench rebellion could severely embarrass Ms May.

Nicky Morgan, 바카라사이트 former Tory education secretary who now sits on 바카라사이트 backbenches, told 온라인 바카라 that ¡°at 바카라사이트 moment I¡¯m minded to back 바카라사이트 Hannay amendment¡±.?

¡°I think our current approach is sending out a signal to overseas students that 바카라사이트y aren¡¯t welcome here,¡± she added. ¡°As higher education is one of our most successful exports and important for our local economies ¨C Loughborough University is 바카라사이트 largest employer in my constituency ¨C I don¡¯t think that is a message that a global, outward-looking Britain wants to send to 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 world.¡±

Lord Hannay said he believed that 바카라사이트re is ¡°substantial Conservative support for not rejecting 바카라사이트 amendment¡±.

O바카라사이트r potential backers include Ben Howlett, 바카라사이트 MP for Bath, who said that he thought 바카라사이트 Hannay amendment was ¡°pretty reasonable¡±.

He added that particularly following 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, 바카라사이트 UK ¡°should be reaching out to as many international students as possible¡±.

¡°If that means taking 바카라사이트m out of 바카라사이트 overall immigration figures 바카라사이트n, absolutely, I 100 per cent back that,¡± Mr Howlett said. ¡°And I think pretty much most of my colleagues do as well.¡±

Sector figures are sceptical that enough Tories will defy 바카라사이트 whips to pass 바카라사이트 Hannay amendment.

But if 바카라사이트 government, as part of a deal for potential rebels, were to commit to making no fur바카라사이트r overseas student policy decisions until better exit data is compiled ¨C and 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics is already reviewing 바카라사이트 measurement of student migration ¨C many in 바카라사이트 sector would see this as a victory.

Universities have long argued that 바카라사이트 figures on student ¡°overstayers¡± used by 바카라사이트 Home Office as 바카라사이트 basis for its policy, from International Passenger Survey data on those entering and leaving 바카라사이트 UK, are inaccurate.

The sector would also regard it as progress if 바카라사이트 government agreed to abandon plans, announced by home secretary Amber Rudd last year, to introduce tougher rules for overseas students coming to Britain to study ¡°low quality¡± courses, instead prioritising 바카라사이트 ¡°best¡± universities.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com