James Cleverly insists he wants to drive a ‘rapid reduction’ in net migration – as the first crackdown on legal routes comes into force.
Changes starting today will bar most foreign students from bringing family members to the UK. The restriction – announced in May – is expected to see 140,000 fewer people move to Britain a year.
It comes after official figures showed net migration – the difference between those coming to the UK long-term and those emigrating – hit a record 745,000 in 2022, triggering a backlash from the Tory backbenches.
The Home Secretary told the Mail: ‘For too long, levels of migration to the UK have been far too high. I share the frustration of the British people and their desire to see a rapid reduction in the number of people coming to the UK.’
James Cleverly insists he wants to drive a ‘rapid reduction’ in net migration – as the first crackdown on legal routes comes into force
It comes after official figures showed net migration – the difference between those coming to the UK long-term and those emigrating – hit a record 745,000 in 2022
He added: ‘The changes that are coming into effect today will mean the vast majority of international students will not be able to bring family members. This will see an estimated 140,000 fewer people come to the UK.’
He said the measures were part of a wider package which will see around ‘300,000 fewer people coming to our shores compared to last year’ and would combat the ‘unreasonable practice of overseas students bringing their family members to the UK’.
The number of dependents coming to live in Britain with foreign students has rocketed. In the year to September, 152,980 visas were issued to foreign students’ relatives, compared with just 14,839 in the year ending September 2019.
From today, only foreign students on postgraduate research courses and government-funded scholarships will be able to bring family members with them.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the visa changes were ‘a sticking plaster’ and blamed the Conservatives for failing to tackle labour market problems.