Tories to fiddle Immigration figures, as they can't actually reduce immigration

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Priceless.

Students could be exempted from immigration figures to help hit Coalition target

Students could be exempted from immigration rules to help hit a pledge to cut drastically the number of non-Europeans settling in Britain under plans being considered by Downing Street.

Prime Minister David Cameron is understood to be concerned that visa restrictions are stopping wealthy foreigners from studying in British universities.

Removing students from the rules would help Mr Cameron to hit a target of cutting the numbers of people coming to live in the UK to tens of thousands of people from outside the European Union.

Figures published in May showed that annual net migration to Britain currently stands at a record high of 250,000 a year. But the Government has pledged to cut the total to below 100,000 by the next general election in 2015.

The idea of excluding students was rejected by immigration minister Damian Green last month, amid concerns that he would be seen as “fiddling” the figures.

However, Mr Cameron is now said to be increasingly sympathetic, with claims from the Home Office that the cap on students are costing the economy £2.6billion.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9385163/Students-could-be-exempted-from-immigration-figures-to-help-hit-Coalition-target.html

Or as MP's in the same article put it.....

Our borders policy should not be in competition with our growth policy.”

Translation: "The pledge was a stupid idea, and we can't meet growth targets without immigration. So lets fiddle the figures to keep the plebs happy.":rotfl:

HappyMJ

If they count them on the way in then they should be counted on the way out neutralizing the figure. It's not really fiddling just bringing forward their departure and if they stay here after the course is finished then they are counted as an immigrant.

moneyinmypocket

More people + less houses = rising prices

Graham_Devon

Well, they aren't really immigrants are they?

They have student visa's. That's not a right to live here.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Well, they aren't really immigrants are they?

They have student visa's. That's not a right to live here.

Completely agree.

Although some stay on afterwards, most leave eventually.

I'm just laughing at the fact this is the best they can come up with to meet their target.

Because, you know, actually reducing immigration is proving impossible. Just like many of us have been saying for years.

chris_m

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Completely agree.

Although some stay on afterwards, most leave eventually.

In which case, surely excluding foreign students from the count isn't so much fiddling the figures as correcting an error in them?

Graham_Devon

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Completely agree.

Although some stay on afterwards, most leave eventually.

I'm just laughing at the fact this is the best they can come up with to meet their target.

Because, you know, actually reducing immigration is proving impossible. Just like many of us have been saying for years.

It's not a tory plan.

The idea was floated by tory and labour MPs. It's also got backing from 68 chancellors, governors and presidents of universities.

I can see what you are trying to do with the thread and you are off on one of your immigration tangents again, but you need to read the article before jumping to the conclusion that this is the tory party trying to reduce figures.

Quite frankly - it's not. It's cross party and uni's are jumping on the ball as they fear fee paying students will go elsewhere. Your article even states that it's unlikely the government will act for fear of being labelled as fiddling the figures....exactly wat you are trying to stoke.

chewmylegoff

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Completely agree.

Although some stay on afterwards, most leave eventually.

I'm just laughing at the fact this is the best they can come up with to meet their target.

Because, you know, actually reducing immigration is proving impossible. Just like many of us have been saying for years.

Reducing immigration isn't impossible, just stop issuing visas. Should be pretty effective. Obviously it would be completely !!!!!!.

For added impact, leave the EU.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Quite frankly - it's not.

The article states that:

-Net migration remains at record high levels, around 250,000 per year

-The tories have made no progress in meeting their pledge to reduce migration to the "tens of thousands"

-By removing students from the existing stats, the stats will appear lower. But migration numbers won't have changed.

-Cameron is concerned this will be seen as "fiddling the figures", but is leaning towards doing it anyway.

Anything you're still unclear about?

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

chewmylegoff wrote: »

For added impact, leave the EU.

Obviously that would be even more !!!!!!.

Graham_Devon

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

The article states that:

-Net migration remains at record high levels, around 250,000 per year

-The tories have made no progress in meeting their pledge to reduce migration to the "tens of thousands"

-By removing students from the existing stats, the stats will appear lower. But migration numbers won't have changed.

-Cameron is concerned this will be seen as "fiddling the figures", but is leaning towards doing it anyway.

Anything you're still unclear about?

You'd argue the sky is brown if it suited you.

The article does not state cameron is concerned it will be seen as fiddling the figures. The article does not state that he is leaning towards doing it.

The article states Damian Green is concerned that it will be seen as fiddiling the figures

The idea of excluding students was rejected by immigration minister Damian Green last month, amid concerns that he would be seen as “fiddling” the figures.

The article states that Cameron is increasinly sympathetic with the claims that the cap on students is costing the economy 2.6bn.

However, Mr Cameron is now said to be increasingly sympathetic, with claims from the Home Office that the cap on students are costing the economy £2.6billion.

Note that that's the cap on students (not immigration) and increasingly sympathetic (meaning it's not the tories wanting to do it, but outside pressure).