New immigration rules published

The government's new points based immigration rules were published yesterday to unanimous condemnation. The statement outlining how it's supposed to work after Brexit is HERE. On first glance it looks quite complicated and bureaucratic. On second glance the whole thing looks even worse. The statement says at one point, "However, we need to guard against making the system too complex."  If this is the simplified version God help anyone wishing to come here after December.

IMMIGRATION WHITE PAPER

Lord Green of Migration Watch has been casting his eye over the immigration white paper which was sneaked out just before Christmas on 19th December and I think it's fair to say he is another very unhappy bunny. Writing on the Conservative Home website HERE he says at 160 pages the white paper is a strong contender for being described as the longest suicide note in history [for the Tory party].

IMMIGRATION AND NO DEAL PLANNING

Two important documents were published yesterday. One was the long awaited and much delayed White Paper on immigration (HERE) and the other was the EU's no-deal contingency measures (HERE) plus some FAQs (HERE) on the same topic.  I think it fair to say that the White Paper has met with a barrage of condemnation from a huge range of individuals and bodies from the Mayor of London to the Federation of Master Builders (HERE).

IMMIGRATION

The appearance of Caroline Noakes, Minister of State for immigration at The Home Office, before the Home Affairs Select Committee the other day found its way onto our national TV screens because of her sheer ineptness and the reaction of Yvetter Cooper, the chair of the committee who was shocked at the way Ms Noakes planned to deal with EU employees after a no-deal Brexit (HERE). 

IMMIGRATION AND BUSINESS

The CBI have recently published a report with their proposals for the new immigration policy (HERE) which I suspect will satisfy nobody. There is simply a restatement of the essential conundrum about immigration. It explicitly notes that high levels of immigration were partly responsible for the referendum result. But it then makes the economic argument that immigration is needed - and not just in high skilled professionals but also in fruit pickers and catering workers at the other end. If you throw in nurses and builders then it's clear we need all kinds of workers.

IMMIGRATION

Another massive issue for the government is the new immigration policy. A white paper was due last year but was delayed and we were told it would not be ready until the end of this year. Now, Mrs May is said to have "intervened" to rush (?) it through by July - although this might slip apparently (HERE). That's the way to do it, lose one Home Secretary, appoint a new inexperienced one and tell him to rustle up a new immigration policy - just like that!

THOSE AWFUL FOREIGNERS - How dare they?

There is a paradox in the Migration Advisory Commission (MAC) interim report that is at odds with the often expressed view that EU migrants come here to claim benefits. The 417 employers who responded to the MAC survey found EU migrants were better qualified, more motivated and so more productive and reliable than British workers. There is concern among employers of both high skilled and low skilled workers that a post Brexit immigration system will have an adverse impact on their business. The Independent report on it HERE

PRACTICAL BREXIT PROBLEMS No 2

Buried among the dozens of urgent tasks for the government is the need to develop a new post Brexit immigration policy and this is being discussed in cabinet apparently (HERE). Andrea Leadsom says she wants a level playing field with no special access for EU citizens to UK residence.

IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ON WAGES VERY SMALL - OFFICIAL

Immigration figured strongly in the referendum campaign as we all know. One aspect, apart from the open racism pedalled by UKIP and the Leave.eu campaign, was the impact it had on wages. Ian Duncan Smith said that wages among the lower paid had fallen by 10% due to immigrants. It now transpires this was a misreading or misquoting of a government report (HERE).

CITIZENS RIGHTS - MORE COMPLICATED THAN WE THOUGHT?

The first issue being discussed in the negotiations with the EU is the one concerning citizens rights. We were told this would be the easiest to reach an agreement on. Today (HERE) writing in The Guardian, eight leaders of the main groups in the EU parliament have signed a letter saying the present UK government proposals do not go far enough and create second class citizens in the UK. Guy Verhofstadt, speaking to the Today programme on Radio 4 this morning, was challenged that what the EU is asking for would give EU citizens in the UK more rights than British citizens.

IMMIGRATION - WE ARE SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT NO LONGER EXISTS

The Telegraph has an article this morning (HERE) about increasing growth in the EU and particularly in the Eastern European nations like Poland. The writer, Ambrose Evans-Pritchard, says this is probably going to put the brakes on immigration to the UK whatever happens and Mrs May's plan to sacrifice the economy to control migration is therefore completely out of date and misguided. It is trying to address a problem which will not exist shortly.