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Theresa May suppressed up to nine studies that found immigration does not hit UK wages, claims Vince Cable | Theresa May suppressed up to nine studies that found immigration does not hit UK wages, claims Vince Cable |
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Theresa May suppressed up to nine studies that found immigration does not hit the wages or jobs of UK workers, Vince Cable has alleged. | Theresa May suppressed up to nine studies that found immigration does not hit the wages or jobs of UK workers, Vince Cable has alleged. |
The Prime Minister has repeatedly defended plans to impose tough curbs on EU workers after Brexit by arguing they are needed to protect Britons in lower-paid jobs. | The Prime Minister has repeatedly defended plans to impose tough curbs on EU workers after Brexit by arguing they are needed to protect Britons in lower-paid jobs. |
But, the Liberal Democrat leader said: “When I was Business Secretary, there were up to nine studies that we looked at that took in all the academic evidence. | But, the Liberal Democrat leader said: “When I was Business Secretary, there were up to nine studies that we looked at that took in all the academic evidence. |
“It showed that immigration had very little impact on wages or employment. But this was suppressed by the Home Office under Theresa May, because the results were inconvenient.” | “It showed that immigration had very little impact on wages or employment. But this was suppressed by the Home Office under Theresa May, because the results were inconvenient.” |
The claims come after the leak of draconian Home Office proposals for post-Brexit curbs on immigration, triggering a major political row. | The claims come after the leak of draconian Home Office proposals for post-Brexit curbs on immigration, triggering a major political row. |
The plans would strip all newly-arrived EU migrants of their rights to live permanently in Britain, imposing permits of between two and five years. | The plans would strip all newly-arrived EU migrants of their rights to live permanently in Britain, imposing permits of between two and five years. |
Last year, Ms May told the Conservative party conference: “I know a lot of people don't like to admit this. For someone who finds themselves out of work or on lower wages because of low-skilled immigration, life simply doesn't seem fair.” | Last year, Ms May told the Conservative party conference: “I know a lot of people don't like to admit this. For someone who finds themselves out of work or on lower wages because of low-skilled immigration, life simply doesn't seem fair.” |
But the claim was rejected by experts including at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which argued immigrants also create jobs, expanding the opportunities for British workers. | But the claim was rejected by experts including at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which argued immigrants also create jobs, expanding the opportunities for British workers. |
Business leaders, defending the need for immigration, have argued that employment is at record levels, creating shortages in the UK workforce. | Business leaders, defending the need for immigration, have argued that employment is at record levels, creating shortages in the UK workforce. |
Meanwhile, a Bank of England analysis of higher migration found there was some evidence of lower pay, but of less than two per cent over eight years. | Meanwhile, a Bank of England analysis of higher migration found there was some evidence of lower pay, but of less than two per cent over eight years. |
This was widely seen as a tiny impact in comparison with the other reasons behind wage stagnation in the decade since the economic crash. | This was widely seen as a tiny impact in comparison with the other reasons behind wage stagnation in the decade since the economic crash. |
Sir Vince added: “I remember it vividly. Overwhelmingly it has been the case that overseas workers have been complementary rather than competitive to British workers. | |
“The exodus of trades people, NHS staff and tech industry workers shows the potential damage of an extreme Brexit.” | “The exodus of trades people, NHS staff and tech industry workers shows the potential damage of an extreme Brexit.” |