Minister are set to launch a fresh attempt to real the EU freedom of movement rules in the United Kingdom as a new flagship immigration legislation is set to appear before MPs.
The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill is intended to make it harder for “unskilled” workers to come to the UK.
The legislation is part of the move towards the government’s new points-based immigration system, to be introduced from 2021, although it does not set out the full details on this.
These will be fleshed out in the immigration rules, which will explain the future system for EU and non-EU nationals who move to the UK after the Brexit transition period ends on December 2020.
The Bill was previously introduced in December 2018 however was stalled as the then Prime Minister Theresa May’s administration did not have an overall majority in the commons.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration has a clear 80 seat majority and the legislation is expected to pass, however, the Bill does come at a time when pressure for the immigration rules to support those dubbed “key workers” during the coronavirus pandemic is high on the opposition benches.
Ahead of the Bill’s return to the Commons, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “This historic piece of legislation gives the UK full control of our immigration system for the first time in decades and the power to determine who comes to this country.
“Our new points-based system is firmer, fairer, and simpler.
“It will attract the people we need to drive our economy forward and lay the foundation for a high wage, high skill, high productivity economy.”
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Monday morning, the shadow home secretary said Labour would not be supporting the Bill and claimed that it is a “threat” to the health service and care sector.
Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “It is rank hypocrisy to stand and clap for them on a Thursday night, then tell them they’re not welcome on a Monday.”
He continued: “We have 180,000 EU nationals who are here, who are frankly helping to keep our services going.
“There are other workers in other sectors – retail workers for example – all of whom the Government wants to send out a message to them with their new immigration system that they are low-skilled.
“I do not think it is right to be clapping our frontline workers and then today be sending out a signal that they are unskilled and unwelcome in the country.
“It is not fair and it is not in the national interest.”
In February, HM’s Government announced plans for the new system, with points awarded for specific requirements such as being able to speak English to a certain level or having a job offer from an approved employer and meeting a salary threshold of £25,600. Other points could be awarded for certain qualifications if the UK was short of workers in a specific industry.
A visa allowing doctors, nurses and health professionals from overseas to work in the NHS was introduced in March.
[give_form id=”1772″ show_title=”false” show_goal=”false” show_content=”below” display_style=”modal”]
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
[sibwp_form id=4]
