Mark Lazarowicz MP has challenged the Government to wake up to the damage being done to colleges and universities – and the UK’s global influence – by its ‘shortsighted’ immigration policy which includes overseas students in the Government net migration target.
Speaking yesterday, the North & Leith MP said: “Today I will be attending an event to celebrate Edinburgh University’s engagement with the wider world through its research, staff and students and I know that all our colleges and universities here in Edinburgh are rightly proud of their international students and contacts.
“But I know they are also deeply worried about the damage being done by the Government’s inclusion of those students in its arbitrary immigration target.
“The whole idea of an arbitrary cap on immigration has proved unworkable and misguided, and its negative impact on higher and further education is particularly severe.”
“The students this shortsighted policy deters will go to other countries that will benefit in our place – not only in financial terms but also from the goodwill that is fostered that can enhance diplomatic, trade and intellectual contacts in years to come.”
Labour has attacked the way that the net migration target takes no account of the reason that people seek to come to the UK, including students in the overall numbers.
Businesses, students, trade unions and the higher education sector have urged the Government to scrap the policy and Labour says it will do so if it forms the next Government.
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