This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53382818

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Priti Patel to set out post-Brexit immigration details Priti Patel sets out post-Brexit immigration details
(about 8 hours later)
Britain is "ready to welcome the best and the brightest global talent", Home Secretary Priti Patel has said, as she prepares to unveil more details of her post-Brexit immigration plan. A fast-track health and care visa has been unveiled as part of plans for the UK's points-based immigration system for when freedom of movement ends.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said employers would be encouraged to invest in workers from within the UK.
But the new system, she added, would also allow them to "attract the best and brightest from around the world".
The new system is set to come into force on New Year's Day, immediately ending freedom of movement with the EU.The new system is set to come into force on New Year's Day, immediately ending freedom of movement with the EU.
The government wants to bring in a "points-based" immigration system which would reward high-skilled workers.
Labour said it could cause "major problems" for the NHS and care sector.
Under the government's plan, those wishing to live and work in the UK must gain 70 points.Under the government's plan, those wishing to live and work in the UK must gain 70 points.
Points would be awarded for criteria such as having a job offer, holding a PhD relevant to the job, speaking English and earning more than £22,000. Points would be awarded for meeting criteria such as having a job offer, holding a PhD relevant to the job, speaking English or earning more than £22,000 a year.
Those with job offers in "shortage occupations" such as nursing and civil engineering would also be able to earn extra points.Those with job offers in "shortage occupations" such as nursing and civil engineering would also be able to earn extra points.
The government will also introduce a health and care visa for health sector workers coming to the UK, while international students will be able to stay in the country for a minimum of two years after finishing their studies. Labour said it would scrutinise the proposals "very carefully", saying the government had "rushed through immigration legislation with very little detail in the middle of a global pandemic".
Ms Patel said: "The British people voted to take back control of our borders and introduce a new points-based immigration system. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK would have a "humane and sensible" immigration system.
"Now we have left the EU, we are free to unleash this country's full potential and implement the changes we need to restore trust in the immigration system and deliver a new fairer, firmer, skills-led system from 1 January 2021." In a written ministerial statement to the House of Commons, Ms Patel said: "At a time where an increased number of people across the UK are looking for work, the new points-based system will encourage employers to invest in the domestic UK workforce, rather than simply relying on labour from abroad.
Labour shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "We will scrutinise the proposals on visas very carefully. The government has rushed through immigration legislation with very little detail in the middle of a global pandemic. "But we are also making necessary changes, so it is simpler for employers to attract the best and brightest from around the world to come to the UK to complement the skills we already have."
"There are real concerns that this will cause major problems for our NHS and our care sector, at a time when we are still waiting for the government to make good on their promise to scrap the unfair immigration health surcharge for workers who were being charged to access the very services they were keeping going to help others during the toughest of times." The new health and care visa will have a reduced fee. Those applying would for it should expect a reply within three weeks, the government said.
On Sunday Ms Patel announced the UK and France had signed a deal on immigration and border management to establish a joint intelligence unit to "crack down on the gangs behind this vile people-smuggling operation". Ms Patel also said frontline health workers would not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Speaking after a visit to Calais, she said: "Despite all of the action taken by law enforcement to date - intercepting the boats, making arrests, returning people to France and putting the criminals responsible behind bars - the numbers continue to increase." However, social care workers would not be able to take advantage of the new visa, Downing Street confirmed.
Her visit came as the government announced a £705m funding package to help manage Britain's borders when the UK leaves the EU customs union at the end of the year. Ms Patel also said the visa process for students was being refined, with a new graduate route being launched next summer to "help retain the brightest and the best students to contribute to the UK post-study".
International students would be able to stay for a minimum of two years after finishing their studies, she said.