James Dyson attacks Theresa May's plans to send home foreign students as a 'short-term vote winner' that will damage UK economy
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Version 0 of 1. British entrepreneur Sir James Dyson has attacked the Home Secretary’s plans to expel foreign students as soon as they graduate as a “short-term vote winner that leads to economic decline”. Writing in the Guardian, Sir James said the Government should be compelling the brightest of graduates to stay in the UK and develop their ideas in way that will benefit the British economy, instead of boosting the UK’s competitors abroad. Theresa May is reportedly considering plans to send graduates from outside of the EU back to their home countries as part of a “move towards zero net student migration,” causing them to apply for a new visa if they wish to return. “May's immigration plans simply force the nimble minds we nurture to return home and fuel competition from overseas,” he said. “Sending them home with new technology developed here presents very good value to our competitor nations. “Instead our education system should be a tool to import the world’s greatest minds. And, most importantly, keep them here, so that it is our economy – and our culture – that benefits.” Sir James’ comments follow harsh criticism over the proposed policy from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said May was “flailing around with her immigration policy in chaos,” while a senior Liberal Democrat source told the Independent that the party had blocked a similar “silly idea” at the start of the coalition. The source said: “Why invest in and train up these bright foreign young people to be engineers, scientists, computer programmers and alike to then turf them out of the country when they are ready to work and make a significant contribution to our country? It makes no economic sense.” |