Conservative Party plans to ‘bear down’ on immigration if it wins UK general election

AUSSIES will find it much tougher to live and work in the UK under election plans just announced to crack down on Commonwealth workers.

Metropolitan Police PC Aulakh and PC Emerton with Monica Canning, from Canberra. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

AUSTRALIANS living and working in the UK could pay the price for an immigration crackdown under a Conservative government following the election next month.

Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her party manifesto on Thursday ahead of the June 8 vote which Conservatives are slated to win.

It includes plans to turn Britain into a “Great Meritocracy” and slash immigration from current net levels of around 273,000 people per year to the “tens of thousands”.

While much of that will come from ending freedom of movement for European citizens as Britain leaves the EU, the government will also “bear down” on Commonwealth workers, it said.

“We will, therefore, continue to bear down on immigration from outside the European

Union. We will increase the earnings thresholds for people wishing to sponsor migrants

for family visas.

“We will toughen the visa requirements for students, to make sure that we maintain high standards. We will expect students to leave the country at the end of their course, unless they meet new, higher requirements that allow them to work in Britain after their studies have concluded.”

Metropolitan Police PC Aulakh and PC Emerton with Monica Canning of Canberra. Picture: Ella Pellegrini

The party plans to double the Immigration Skills Charge for companies that employ foreign workers to £2,000 ($3500) per year, using the money to re-train UK workers instead.

Commonwealth citizens will also face paying a higher surcharge to use Britain’s National Health Service which will be increased to £600 ($1050) for migrant workers and £450 ($787) for international students.

The plans might meet strong resistance from Australian leaders, who have repeatedly called for greater access for workers to UK markets, especially as part of a free-trade deal between the two countries.

Both Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and UK High Commissioner Alexander Downer have suggested that access should be on the table as part of a free trade negotiation.

In contrast, the Labour Party has promised to prioritise “growth, jobs and prosperity” over “bogus immigration targets”. It agreed freedom of movement will end when Britian leaves the EU, but has promised not to “scapegoat migrants nor blame them for economic failures”.

Latest polling shows Conservatives are expected to win the election, scoring 45 per cent of the “intention to vote”, compared to 32 per cent for Labour party.

The election will take place on June 8.