Statement on the Home Office’s Five Point Immigration Plan
A statement on the Home Office’s Five Point Immigration Plan, as well as a letter to send to your local MP, from your International Students' Officer Bakhtawar Javed.
A Statement on the Home Office's Five-Point Immigration Plan
"Last Monday, the UK Home Office announced a five point immigration plan that intends to curb legal migration and bring down the net migration rate in the UK as of Spring 2024. The plan sets out to increase the salary threshold for skilled workers to £38,700, increase the NHS surcharge, and revisit the graduate route which may have implications for students. Unsurprisingly, the announcement of this plan has made international students extremely anxious as it has led to a great deal of uncertainty for their future.
"As your International Students Officer, I believe that this move by the government is unfair and hostile towards international students, who are integral to both our local community and the country as a whole. I and Bristol SU will continue to show solidarity with international students.
"I am currently in conversations with University staff and other platforms, such as the Russell Group Students Union and the UKCISA. I am working on a comprehensive strategy to initiate lobbying and dialogues with various stakeholders at different levels such as other Student Unions, Universities, local government and the government.
"The government may issue further clarifications around the policy in future, but in the meanwhile, I would encourage students to reach out for support to me or the SU / wellbeing services if they feel anxious and worried about the situation. Furthermore, if they feel like a placement or graduate programme has been impacted by the announcement, they should contact the Careers Service.
"International students are convenient to the government when their agenda is funding higher education, but paradoxically bear the brunt of ‘migration crackdowns’. To take action against this decision, which has reinforced the feeling that international students are just collateral damage whose fears and anxieties are not fully comprehended, I urge all students to write to their MP. You can see what I wrote to Thangam Debbonaire here and use this letter as a template.
"I will continue to update you as conversations progress and more information is released from the Home Office."
Not sure who to contact?
Here are Bristol's four Members of Parliament (MPs) and their email addresses. You should email the MP that represents your constituency (which is the area where you live in the city).
- Bristol East, Kerry McCarthy - kerry.mccarthy.mp@parliament.uk
- Bristol North West, Darren Jones - darren.jones.mp@parliament.uk
- Bristol South, Karin Smyth - karin.smyth.mp@parliament.uk
- Bristol West, Thangam Debbonaire - thangam.debbonaire.mp@parliament.uk
