PM's post-Brexit immigration plans

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02 October 2018

Responding to the Prime Minister setting out her post-Brexit immigration plans, Russell Group Chief Executive Dr Tim Bradshaw said:

“The Government is right to be ambitious for a future immigration system that looks across the globe and attracts the people with the skills we need. However, tweaking Tier 2, the current route for skilled workers, is not the comprehensive reform that universities and business have been calling for. This route is extremely bureaucratic and burdensome for businesses, charities, and universities and a series of relatively minor reforms will not create a future system that enables the UK to build the strong, global partnerships we need after Brexit.

“We believe the Government should be using the UK’s departure from the European Union as an opportunity to take a more innovative and holistic approach to immigration reform. The Russell Group has proposed a new Skills Permit, which would apply to skilled workers and students and could sit alongside any route needed for lower skilled work in areas where business faces clear shortages. This new model would first apply to EEA migrants and could then be rolled out to other international partners on the basis of future trade agreements. Entering into trade negotiations with a competitive offer on mobility will help the UK secure the best possible deals.”