Yesterday, the ‘points-based’ UK immigration bill passed the initial Commons stage. Tara Pilkington brings you a rundown of what you need to know.
This latest development regarding the new immigration bill has been met with criticism from Labour who claim that this Australian-style system will alienate key workers who have risked their lived for the UK public during the coronavirus pandemic.
Here is everything you need to know about the bill:
- With a Tory majority of 80, the controversial passed by 351 votes to 252. This means that the bill will now go on to further parliamentary scrutiny.
- If it eventually receives royal assent it will repeal EU freedom of movement in line with promises made by Boris Johnson during the 2016 referendum.
- This would also introduce a new framework, which has yet to be detailed, setting out who can come to Britain in the future.
- Some senior Tories have expressed concern that rushing through changes before 31 December could cause chaos, reflecting on claims that Covid-19 has dramatically changed public attitudes towards work which was previously considered “unskilled”.
- Labour’s shadow home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has said the government’s salary threshold of £25,600 tells people that anyone who earns less is unskilled and unwelcome in our country.
- He added: “Are shop workers unskilled? Are refuse collectors? Are local government workers? Are NHS staff? Are care workers? Of course, they are not,”
