Home Secretary admits his own
department's immigration
target is a 'problem'

The Home Secretary Sajid Javid told the BBC yesterday that he ’empathised’ with critics of his own government’s immigration policy.

Hundreds of skilled workers from outside the European Union have been refused entry into the UK to fill important vacancies for the past six months.

These include much-needed IT specialists and doctors who were ready to take up vital posts in the NHS. They were denied the opportunity to work here because of the ongoing annual immigration ‘cap’ on  Tier 2 (skilled workers) visas.

Javid said: ‘I see the problem. It is something that I’m taking a fresh look at. I know a number of my colleagues certainly want me to take a look at this, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. And I hope to think about this more carefully and see what can
be done.’

It is ‘something I would like to look at again’, he commented.

If Javid’s comments translate into a change of rules, it could signal a welcome change for business and public services.

Mr Javid stated that he was committed to the Conservative’s manifesto, but refused to explicitly support this Home Office policy. While businesses will be cheered at apparent chance of stance, some commentators are saying that he is starting to defy the Prime Minister.

Theresa May was Home Secretary when the cap was introduced six years ago, and she reiterated her promise to reduce net migration below 100,000 per year when she became Prime Minister.

Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Sir Ed Davey agreed with the Home Secretary, saying:

‘He will have the support of almost everyone in Parliament to exclude students and medical staff from the immigration cap, but it’s far from clear that the prime minister is willing to admit her long-cherished policy is wrong.’

The PM’s office responded in a statement this afternoon: ‘We’ve always said that this is a process that will take time but if you look at the most recent set of figures, net migration is falling. We are fully committed to reaching this target, the Prime Minister has been clear it will take time.’

But the message also seems to confirm that the PM is at last ready to look again at her immigration target.

‘Visa routes are always under review and we are monitoring the situation in relation to visa applications for doctors, including the monthly limits through the Tier 2 visa route. The government fully recognises the contribution that international professionals make to the UK.’