If the Government thinks this week’s hard-line immigration shift will help halt the nosedive in its support, they’re wrong.
Evidence from other countries shows many voters will see this as extreme and cruel. Others will see it for the desperate political posturing it is and turn further to the authoritarian right, who’ll move on to saying even the Home Secretary’s performative cruelty doesn’t go far enough.
It will make life harder for people we need to come here to study, work and care – and that’s bad for Norwich. Our universities rely on international students and researchers, and NHS and social care struggle to recruit. Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital cannot fill clinical roles, and adult social care in Norfolk still has nearly 2,000 vacancies. The King’s Fund and Skills for Care warn UK workers cannot fill these gaps. There simply aren’t enough people here to do the jobs.