Letter to Home Secretary on immigration policies

Dear Yvette,

I'm writing as general secretary of the University and College Union to ask you to raise concern about the deleterious impact of immigration policies on Britain's world-leading higher education sector, and those who work and learn in it.

Particularly damaging has been the recent rise in the minimum salary threshold for sponsored visas, introduced by the Tory government in April. The jump from £26,200 to £38,700 for a skilled worker visa, along with other crackdowns on student visas, is significantly restricting the ability of universities to recruit both students and staff.

Since January, holders of student visas have been unable to bring family members with them to the UK unless they are studying for a postgraduate research degree. These changes are likely to drive down the number of international students and hurt university finances. Many universities have developed business models which mean they now rely on the income from international students. Furthermore, international students have an equal right to family life.

By prohibiting them from bringing their loved ones, UK immigration policies are out of step when compared to international peers, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. This will inevitably have a negative impact on international students and encourage them to take their skills and study in one of the many countries that will not require them to be separated from their family.

The changes are making it much harder for higher education institutions to attract talent from overseas and risk compounding the decline of what is perhaps the UK's last world-leading sector. The Education Secretary has taken a much more welcoming tone towards international students, but it's imperative we now see that reflected in Home Office policies.

On top of these damaging changes to visa rules, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) continues to serve as punitive double taxation and embodies the Tory hostile environment policies with which Labour should be breaking, not compounding.

At a time when full and equal access to healthcare is vital, and when the role of migrant workers across the UK economy has never been more important, scrapping page 2 this surcharge for all migrants would send a positive signal. We hope that with a change of government, this may now be seriously considered.

We previously welcomed the last government's decision to exempt some migrant workers from the IHS, but we urge you to go one step further and abolish these punitive fees, which disproportionately affect the most precarious workers, altogether.

The decision to exempt NHS workers from the IHS highlights how unjust it is. If it is morally wrong to charge a migrant porter, doctor, or cleaner to access the NHS then it is also morally wrong to charge a migrant bus driver, teacher, postal worker or educator. They too help to sustain wider society through their taxes and National Insurance contributions, as well as indirectly through the many wider economic and social contributions that they make to the UK.

The UK already operates one of the most hostile and expensive immigration systems in the world, and Labour must work towards a more humane system; one which no longer simply privileges those with the ability to pay. In an ageing society such as the UK, an open and welcoming immigration system and thriving post-16 education sectors are crucial for economic growth, which is a key goal of this government.

I hope you will be able to give my thoughts serious consideration, and I would be happy to meet with you or colleagues from the Home Office to discuss our concerns further.

Yours sincerely, Dr Jo Grady General secretary

CC: Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary