Theresa May slammed over anti-migration plot to kick foreign graduates out of UK December 22, 2014 Business groups and politicians expressed dismay yesterday at plans by home secretary Theresa May to force foreign students to leave the UK before re-applying for work visas. May wants the Conservatives to include the measure in their party manifesto ahead of the general election next year. Current coalition partners the Liberal Democrats sought to [...]
Stricter immigration rules, lack of skills and red tape could stunt UK firms’ hiring plans December 21, 2014 UK firms are worried that a lack of skills, stricter immigration rules, and over-regulation could scupper their plans to expand next year. Business are looking to take on more workers with 50 per cent of firms planning to add to their headcount in 2015, according to survey data released today by the Confederation of British [...]
Labour will make it illegal to undercut UK workers’ wages by paying foreign workers less December 14, 2014 Labour will today announce plans to make it illegal for employers to pay foreign workers less than their UK counterparts. Ed Miliband is set to crack down on companies that undercut British staff by taking on cheaper labour from abroad. It is the latest in a string of speeches from the Labour leader as he [...]
NHS would be in trouble without migrant workers December 10, 2014 The NHS would be “in dire straits” without migrant workers, one of the UK’s senior economists claimed yesterday. Office for Budget Responsibility board member Stephen Nickell told the Treasury Select Committee that 35 per cent of health professionals came from outside the UK. When asked whether immigration had a positive or negative impact on the [...]
Boris Johnson slams Nigel Farage for blaming M4 traffic delay on immigrants December 8, 2014 London Mayor Boris Johnson has fired a broadside at Ukip's Nigel Farage for blaming his tardiness on immigrants. Farage was due to address the party's first Welsh conference in Port Talbot this weekend but was held up by traffic on the M4. The senior Tory lambasted Farage's excuses as "feeble" and one of the "poorest" [...]
Germany is number two destination for immigrants while Britain takes third December 2, 2014 The USA may still rank as the world's number one destination for immigrants looking for a better life, but Germany managed to scoop second place, according to research from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). That's up from eighth place in 2009. Britain took bronze, coming third place. Germany's popularity with migrants has [...]
“All in this together” takes a back seat as “long term economic plan” and immigration top odds on Osborne’s most likely Autumn Statement phrases December 1, 2014 Are we all in this together? Not any more. The phrase beloved by Cameron and Co has fallen to its longest odds yet when it comes to the likelihood of it appearing in this year’s Autumn Statement at 4/1. It looks like the Conservatives' long-term economic plan is still on track, though, with Ladbrokes giving [...]
Could Cameron’s pledge for tougher action on immigrant welfare push Britain to an EU exit? November 30, 2014 Alisdair McIntosh is director of Business for New Europe, says Yes. David Cameron is right to recognise the value of EU membership to the economy, but his policies raise concerns. Free movement of people is fundamental to the EU, and large-scale changes may prove impossible. Some of his proposals, like barring migrants from in-work benefits [...]
Business “can’t ignore” public concern over immigration, warns IoD November 28, 2014 Businesses cannot ignore the UK's concerns about immigration, the Institute of Directors has warned, after David Cameron outlined new measures to curb immigration to the UK. Although business traditionally argues in favour of encouraging immigration, pointing out that immigrants can fill yawning skills gaps in the UK workforce, Simon Walker, director general of the Institute [...]
David Cameron: Let us block migrant benefits or we’ll leave EU November 27, 2014 David Cameron will today fire a warning shot over EU negotiations by revealing plans to dramatically tighten benefits allowances for immigrants from within the Union. The Prime Minister will toughen his stance by insisting that he is ready for Britain to leave the EU unless benefits for migrants can be severely restricted. His speech comes in [...]