Taking international students out of the UK’s immigration statistics would be seen as a “fix” by the public and therefore it is unlikely to happen without a manifesto commitment, the new chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee has said.
Robin Walker predicted the country’s tabloid press would “have a field day” if ministers were seen to be trying to reduce the immigration numbers – that recently hit record levels – by removing the group from the figures entirely.
Universities have lobbied for students not to count as immigrants to defuse some of the debate around how many should be permitted to enter the UK in future.
