 on November 24, could show net migration at a record high, sparking a backlash from voters who backed Brexit to take back control of the UK's borders. Migration experts said they would 'not be surprised' if net migration passed the previous post-war high of 390,000 in 2015, which would represent a sharp increase from the last total of 239,000 for the year to June 2021. Ms Braverman and Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, are understood to be working on measures to reduce net migration by reining in the number of dependents that students can bring to the UK and tightening rules for those staying after graduation. They believe they can 'square the circle' by using the existing points-based immigration scheme to in){kind=link}
Originally an idea devised by Liz Truss, the PM believes the fast-track schemes could be used to turbo-boost the economy
A new “growth visa” to bring in skilled workers to plug shortages and boost the economy is being considered by Rishi Sunak.
A Downing Street source confirmed on Thursday that the new visa route – an idea devised by the Prime Minister’s predecessor Liz Truss – is “still being discussed” as a way to boost economic growth.
Mr Sunak has pledged to bring down net migration to fulfil a 2019 Tory manifesto pledge to do so but has also backed new visa schemes to attract more highly skilled migrants and entrepreneurs.
Earlier this year, as chancellor, he cited figures showing that nearly half of the UK’s science, technology and engineering researchers were immigrants and half of the most innovative companies were founded by an immigrant.