UK immigration limit hits economy

According to a leaked government report seen by the Independent, Home Secretary Theresa May is under intense pressure from Cabinet members including Prime Minister David Cameron to soften her immigration crackdown and not include foreign students from the immigration cap.

The UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), which seeks to attract foreign companies to Britain, warned that the government’s immigration policy is the major concern for potential investors in Britain as it ranks ahead of dwarfing personal and company taxation, red tape, skills and planning rules.

“These ‘front of mind’ concerns are usually near-term and have the prospect of impacting adversely on companies’ immediate business competitiveness and therefore the UK’s ability to attract investment,” the UKTI said.

According to figures by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published in May, annual net migration to Britain remains at 252,000 in the year to September 2011, more than the double the UK government’s target for reducing net migration to less than 100,000 a year.

Earlier this week, Chancellor George Osborne announced the GDP has shrunken by 0.7 percent in 2012’s second quarter, meaning that the British economy is officially in its worst recession in over 50 years.

SSM/MA/HE

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