Pandering to anti-migrant sentiment is hurting the British economy.
Pandering to anti-migrant sentiment is hurting the British economy
In seeking to see off the threat from UKIP, David Cameron’s government has put a great deal of stock in appearing ‘tough’ on immigration.
Back in 2010 Cameron argued that it was “perfectly possible” to halve net migration without damaging companies or the economy.
Four years on and the results of this assumption are starting to come in; and it doesn’t bode well for the coalition.
According to a new study carried out by the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory for the Financial Times, the number of highly skilled migrants from outside Europe fell by more than a third since between 2011 and 2013.
There were 28,000 fewer highly skilled migrants in the UK last year compared to 2011, a drop of just over 10 per cent.
As the FT (£) reports:
“While researchers stop short of blaming policy changes for the decline in skilled specialists from Asia, Africa and the Americas, the findings are clear: the reduction in non-EU hires between 2011 and 2013 has been mirrored by a corresponding 53 per cent rise in highly skilled migrants from older EU countries such as France and Germany.”
Particularly telling is a comment in the FT’s by the director general of the CBI John Cridland:
“I certainly pick up in international markets that there’s now a perception that the UK isn’t as open to highly skilled migrants and investors and entrepreneurs.”
In April 2011 the government abolished Labour’s ‘highly skilled’ visa route and introduced an annual cap on the number of skilled workers allowed into the UK. They also put an end to the post-study work visa, which had previously allowed overseas graduates to stay in Britain to look for work for two years after finishing their studies.
Responding to the findings, the business secretary Vince Cable told the FT that the net migration target was “not government policy”. He added that it “clearly had a damaging impact on UK plc by reducing the talent pool available to companies based here”.
Despite previously insisting that Britain is ‘still open for business’, it appears that pandering to anti-migrant sentiment is directly hurting the British economy.
38 Responses to “It’s official: the immigration clampdown is hurting British business”
Leon Wolfeson
You got under 10% of the population, in the recent voting. Keep making up dream figures, though.
Leon Wolfeson
Great, since they are not being replaced, and immigration per scientific studies only lower the wages of other recent immigrants. The blame for Britain’s economic woes lies entirely with the domestic economic policies of the Coalition.
Thanks for admitting, for the record, we’re not a slave state. Also, socialism supports free movement, not national boundaries. (I’m not a socialist and I know that!)
Leon Wolfeson
Well, you’re here…as you think it’s “capitalist” to allow workers to cross borders.
And that you think your kind of hate is trainable…heh. (And no, you can’t replace 30 year veterans with new Graduates, and many bright-but-skilled people are now avoiding University here, since they don’t intend to lose money over their working life by doing so).
YOU are one person, not a multiple personality. YOU are attacking British society using the Other as an excuse.
Leon Wolfeson
Universities are closing departments left, right and centre, because of the drop in foreign students. Internationally-ranked departments, even.
Of course you want the left to become isolationist, and pro massive wage drops like you, as you blame immigrants, for the government’s terrible entirely domestic economic policies.
Running round trying to “shore up” skills, when bright kids are avoiding University thanks to the fees, when people are being refused VISA’s for the UK when America (of all places) are admitting them on O1 “superstar” VISA’s…
You also fail to mention that closing the borders would smash trade and wages.
Leon Wolfeson
Yes, of course your racism is special and pure and true. As you blame people who don’t look just like you for domestic economic problems.
History repeats.