Jonathan Gullis praises new Government policy to bring down legal migration
Jonathan Gullis welcomed the the Home Secretary’s package of measures aimed at reducing legal migration, including raising the minimum earnings threshold by one third to £38,700 (as suggested in the New Conservatives’ Skills Plan).
Having been under increasing pressure from MPs, including Jonathan who has been campaigning for a long time action on legal migration, Jonathan welcomed the Government’s announcement.
Recent figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that immigration on the year to June 2023 was 672,000 which Jonathan has branded as “unacceptable for the people of Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke”.
Jonathan has been clear that “net migration figures this high are unsustainable.” Writing in the Daily Express recently, Jonathan made clear that public services can’t cope with hundreds of thousands of new immigrants every year and that schools and hospitals are suffering as a result. He argued that the Government should listen to the New Conservatives’ Immigration plan and outline a clear approach to cutting immigration.
This includes raising the salary threshold for skilled work visas to a minimum of of £38,000, reviewing the Shortage Occupation List and raising the combined minimum income requirement for a spouse’s visa.
The Government’s new approach to legal migration includes raising the minimum salary requirement for a new skilled foreign worker from just over £26,000 to £38,700 whilst also stopping overseas health workers from brining dependants to the UK.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Jonathan Gullis said: “The people of Stoke on Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke will welcome the announcement today from the Home Secretary and of course his right honourable friend, the Minister for Immigration, whilst also realising the faux outrage of the party opposite who can talk tough with the rhetoric on the front bench, but the squirming on the back benches of uncomfortableness when it comes to talking about immigration is something that I enjoy thoroughly, especially when we know they wish to return free movement through the back door. But will my right honourable friend confirm that in future reviews we will actually look to introduce stopping the dependency route for those on one year research master's degrees as well?”
Responding, the Home Secretary said: “Well, we have committed to do a wider review of the higher education route, the postgraduate route. I take on board the point he's made. We have already taken action on this. I commit to review this. Once we've seen the outcome of the review, I will be able to update him and the House on the that decision. “
Commenting, Jonathan Gullis said: “I welcome the Government’s plans to cut down legal migration which is far too high.
“It is absolutely right to raise earnings thresholds for workers to ensure British workers are not being undercut by cheap migrant labour and ensure that families can support anyone coming here with a visa financially. “
“We must bring migration back down to sustainable levels, and these policy announcements are definitely a step in the right direction.”