£20bn boost to Britain’s finances
Highly skilled migrant workers from the European Union have provided a £20bn boost to Britain’s finances over a decade by paying far more in taxes than they claim in benefits, fresh research discloses today.
The figures emerged after the Liberal Democrat minister Norman Baker resigned from Government, accusing his Conservative colleagues of failing to pursue “rational evidence-based policy”. He also told The Independent that the Tories were “rather obsessed” with immigration and protested that the Liberal Democrats were treated as “a cuckoo in the nest” by the Home Secretary, Theresa May.
David Cameron, who mocked Mr Baker yesterday over his resignation, has signalled his determination to tighten the rules on EU nationals’ entitlement to work in this country and is due to set out his plans by the end of the year.
But the analysis by University College London (UCL) suggests that new restrictions would cost the economy dear by deterring highly educated young Europeans from moving temporarily to Britain.
Article © www.independent.co.uk