Sunak ‘putting tackling legal migration top of the agenda’ at European summit MIGRATION Rishi Sunak is seeking to put “tackling illegal migration top of the international agenda” at a gathering of European leaders in Moldova. The Prime Minister is stressing the need for collaboration on the “global issue” at a meeting of the European Political Community. While there, he is expected to announce the start of negotiations on [...]
Net migration figures present collision between facts and feelings for Sunak Analysis Net migration figures have hit record highs – to the surprise of precisely no one. Expectation management is a vital piece of the political toolkit. That much-touted 1,000-seat loss in the local election results was brought out in advance as an over-the-top figure designed to give the electorate a happy surprise – but, to the [...]
Net migration to UK hits record high of 606,000 as Brexit scales EU movement back Sunak under pressure Net migration to the UK has hit a record high of 606,000, new figures released this morning reveal. The significant surge in legal migration for 2022 has hit the highest level on record, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. It follows weeks of speculation over the numbers with prime minister Rishi Sunak seeking [...]
Suella Braverman escapes ethics probe into speeding row May 24, 2023 Suella Braverman has escaped an ethics investigation over claims she asked civil servants whether they could arrange her a private speeding awareness course. Prime minister Rishi Sunak has confirmed no “further investigation” will take place into the row and said he was “reassured [Braverman] takes these matters seriously”. In a letter to the home secretary, [...]
Sadiq Khan hosts crunch business talks with City figures May 23, 2023 Sadiq Khan has warned London’s businesses are facing “the most difficult period in living memory” as a result of Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic and the inflation crisis. The Mayor of London has called for the government to devolve some immigration powers to City Hall as a means of tackling regional labour shortages sparked by the [...]
Three former education secretaries back calls for urgent changes to apprenticeship levy – here’s why May 21, 2023 Calls to link the apprenticeship levy to Britain’s immigration policy have been backed by three former education secretaries. Lord David Blunkett, Sir Gavin Williamson and Nadhim Zahawi have lent support to a report calling for urgent changes to the government’s levy on firms to pay for apprenticeships – including linking the scheme to visa rules [...]
Net migration set for record high as Tories brace for backlash May 14, 2023 Net migration figures into the UK are reportedly set to reach a record high of up to one million with the Conservative party bracing for criticism over the issue. Official figures are expected to be released later in May, with net migration expected to be 650,000 to 997,000 – far higher than the previous record [...]
Plans to house asylum seekers in military bases and barges as government pushes ahead to ‘discourage’ small boat crossings March 29, 2023 Asylum seekers will be housed in disused military bases, ferries and barges under government plans to reduce spending on hotels. Immigration minister Robert Jenrick is expected to announce the use of two RAF sites as he tries to reduce the £6.8m a day the government says it spends on hotel accommodation. The plans are likely [...]
Does the BBC’s Gary Lineker row show that the government has a problem with football? March 12, 2023 The weather forecast finished and then suddenly there it was: the BBC’s hurried replacement for Match of the Day following its spectacular bungling of the Gary Lineker row. Shorn of its theme tune, opening title, studio, presenter, pundits, commentators and about an hour of running time, this was bleak and surreal; a sort of post-apocalyptic [...]
UK immigration hits record levels despite labour shortages March 8, 2023 Immigration to the UK has hit record levels, despite labour shortages in key sectors, amid a fresh wave of public positivity towards arrivals. In the year ending in June 2022, long-term immigration into the UK was around 1.1m, up by 435,000 on the previous annual figure. Employment-related migration fell in vital sectors such as hospitality [...]