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Permission to Visit - Goldilocks and the Three Bank Statements
Robert Houchill
On Friday 31st January 2020 the UK officially left Europe via the Withdrawal Agreement. Five years on and it is difficult to look at the challenges the UK faces and not question whether it has been very problematic for the UK’s economy. Please indulge me to reflect on the last five years.
As a country, we have experienced significant political upheaval—four prime ministers in five years—and after 14 years of Conservative leadership, Labour is now in power.
In economic terms, we continue to struggle and the impact of leaving the EU cannot be disregarded when considering the source of our ongoing challenges. We find ourselves travelling the globe in search of trade agreements, often appearing as though we are begging for partnerships. Few anticipated Trump’s re-emergence as a dominant global figure, which complicates matters further. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which was meant to stabilise trade with the EU, has shown little tangible benefit. We remain "out" but constantly seek ways to engage with the EU, proposing various forms of relationship-building to re-establish a connection. Meanwhile, Europe itself has been shifting to the far right politically, a trend that seems likely to continue.
Some suggestions: sector -specific visas that can be fast tracked, particularly if Starmer wants the UK to be the hub for AI. Reduce the barriers for highly skilled migrants and entrepreneurs. We are one of the most expensive countries in the world when it comes to immigration costs! Use the income from the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) for its intended purposes, which was to invest in the upskilling of domestic workers as opposed to putting the £2 billion+ (since its introduction in 2017) back into the Treasury. Be transparent with data, since the introduction of the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) in 2015 it has generated approximately £6.9 billion in revenue, with over £1.7 billion collected in the 2023/24 financial year alone. Introduce a viable route for entrepreneurs looking to build a business in the UK. Seek to attract much needed investment to the UK with a well thought out replacement to the investor visa which we can see tangible benefits from.
Labour has a unique opportunity to lead boldly. If they commit to a five-year plan for immigration reform, it would signal to the world that the UK is serious about becoming a global AI hub and a magnet for entrepreneurs. With decisive action and strategic vision, the UK could transform itself within five years into the leading destination for innovation and talent. The path forward demands bravery, but the rewards could redefine the nation’s place on the world stage.
Further information
If you have any questions regarding this blog, please contact Marcia Longdon in our Immigration team.
About the author
Marcia Longdon joined as a partner in the immigration team in January 2014. She has practised in the area of immigration, nationality and European law since 1998. She has had a long career in the field of immigration and is incredibly passionate about this area of law. She has won a number of challenges against the Home Office regarding complex cases, which have resulted in discretionary leave for her clients. Marcia is also a member of Worldwide ERC’s immigration public policy forum.
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