UNSKILLED migration from the EU will plummet by 90,000 a year under Boris Johnson’s new plans for an Australian-style immigration system.
The PM and Home Secretary met this week to sign off on the new plans for a migration system after Brexit, which will come into action next January.
The new rules will mean an overnight reduction by tens of thousands, who will no longer have a route into Britain.
Net migration was 212,000 a year to the year June 2019, but EU migration has already fallen two thirds since the Brexit vote.
Officials predict an influx of the number of boffins coming into Britain instead, however, from outside of the EU.
HOARday Times revealed that skilled migrants will get points for having a job offer at the appropriate skill level, a job with a sponsored company, a salary of at least 25,600 a year, and good English skills.
And if they apply for work where there’s a shortage or have a stellar education, they will also get bumped up the list.
The salary threshold is almost 5,000 lower than the proposed system set out under the former PM, Theresa May.
Special sector-by-sector visas could be introduced to tackle shortages, and and seasonal visas will be available for some jobs too.
Businesses have blasted they will no longer have access to the staff they need, and have demanded the threshold be ditched altogether.
The PM’s Cabinet are expected to sign off the new rules at a meeting this week, after Boris’ planned reshuffle on Thursday.
A second phase of reforms is also on the cards for later on next year, with extra points for young people, and those outside of London.
A government source said: The PM wants to deliver a system which demonstrates the UK is open and welcoming to the top talent from across the world, which will help the economy and country thrive.
At the same time we must deliver on what this country voted for by decreasing low-skilled migration and breaking away from a reliance on cheap labour to focus on boosting skills, technology and innovation that will truly benefit the UK for the long term.
