High Peak Liberal DemocratsOn Tuesday the Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, joined academics, students, business leaders and other politicians at a rally in support of international students. London Frist's "Stand up don't be counted" campaign aims to take students out of the UK's net migration target.
The photo above shows Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the Green Party, Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive of London First, Paul Currran, President of City University, Sir Vince Cable, Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Tulip Siddiq MP attending the rally in Torrington Square, London.
The government aims to reduce net migration to under 100,000 people each year. In London alone, international students bring a net benefit of £2.3 billion per annum and support 70,000 jobs in the capital.
New data released by the organisers of the event, business group London First, shows the majority of people (57%) believe that international students should not be included in the government's net migration target, with less than one in three people (31%) thinking they should be included.
In fact, there is majority support for removing students from the target across all age groups and from around the country, including over half of Conservative Party voters (52%).
Vince Cable said:
Yesterday's rally was accompanied with the following letter published by London First, signed by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, the NUS and chief executives of leading UK businesses:
Time to admit that international students are not the target
The contribution that international students make to our institutions, economy, local communities and global standing is clear. It's time to take them out of the government's net migration target.
The government is right to clamp down on any bogus activity and the steps they've already taken mean we can be confident that over 97% of international students play by the rules, coming here to learn and returning home after their studies.
Now it is time to move the debate on and focus on growing one of our most successful exports. The government has been clear there is no cap on the number of international students who can come to study in the UK. But continuing to include them in the net migration target sends the opposite message.
Reporting better data would provide clarity and build trust in how the government is managing migration.
The next step should then be to build on the government's welcome recent move to give international masters students more time to find a graduate job in the UK, and to reintroduce a post-study work visa. British educated overseas talent is an asset and this would make our country more competitive as we seek to make the best of life outside the EU.
It's time for the Prime Minister to accept that international students are not the target, commit to smarter data and protect one of our major export sectors, sending a strong message that the UK is serious in its ambition to invest in international education.
Signed by:
Jasmine Whitbread, CEO of London First
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London* Paul Walter was a supply chain manager with a leading international IT firm from 1981 to 2016. Paul is a Liberal Democrat activist. He is one of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
Published and promoted by Barrie Taylor on behalf of High Peak Liberal Democrats all at Daleside, Linglongs Road,, Whaley Bridge SK23 7DS and by Richard Salmon, Derbyshire Liberal Democrats on behalf of Stan Heptinstall (Liberal Democrats) both at 9 Walnut Road, Belper DE56 1RG.
The views expressed are those of the publisher, not of the service provider.
Website designed and developed by Prater Raines Ltd, with modifications by High Peak Liberal Democrats