LONDON: Britain’s most influential business group expressed concern at the “blunt approach” to immigration foreshadowed in Prime Minister Theresa May’s Conservative Party election manifesto.
“With the world watching, now is the time to send a clear signal that the UK is open for business,” said Carolyn Fairbairn, head of the Confederation of British Industry, which represents some 190,000 businesses.
“Firms will be therefore heartened by proposed increased R&D spending, planned corporation tax reductions and a commitment to act on business rates,” Fairbairn said.
“But the Conservative manifesto has an Achilles heel — in a global race for talent and innovation UK firms risk being left in the starting blocks because of a blunt approach to immigration,” she said, urging May to “commit to working alongside business more closely than ever before” through Brexit.
May pledged to restrict EU citizens’ post-Brexit freedom of movement to Britain and curb non-EU immigration, keeping a long-term target to reduce annual net immigration to below 100,000 and double an annual levy for employers who use skilled staff from outside the EU. She promised to curb all categories of immigration by non-EU citizens, vowing to increase the minimum financial requirements for family visas.
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants condemned May’s “outrageous” plan to raise the minimum annual income for spouse visas from its current £18,600 ($24,000).
“It is madness of the cruellest sort to sacrifice the family unity of British citizens and residents at the altar of the net migration target,” said Saira Grant, the group’s chief executive.
May’s political rivals also raised major concerns about the manifesto.
— dpa
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