Ire over British visa plans for EU citizens

Business leaders and others reacted with concern and worse over the Theresa May government’s immigration plans for EU citizens after Brexit, which are almost similar to curbs applicable for Indian citizens and could adversely affect business.

The plans, leaked to the media this week, are not final but provide an indication of the thinking of the government on an issue that was central to the vote to leave the EU. The plans set out in Whitehall in August are subject to more changes.

The planned curbs led to more concern and confusion among EU citizens currently in Britain. Official figures released this month suggested a large number of EU citizens were leaving the UK.

The plans, yet to be finalised and agreed with Brussels, cover skilled and unskilled EU migrants and students, including their needing to prove knowledge of English.

The leaked document states: “This means that, to be considered valuable to the country as a whole, immigration should benefit not just the migrants themselves but also make existing residents better off.” It proposes measures to cut the number of low-skilled EU migrants and describes a phased introduction to a new system that ends the right to settle for most migrants.

The plans were promptly criticised by pro-EU sections. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable wrote to May, calling for publication of evidence on the impact of EU migration that he claims the Home Office suppressed.