The Tories’ new immigration policy will be a disaster for the economy, despite what Brexiteers say

Editorial: The effect of a reduction in EU migrants will be increased labour costs for businesses and a crippling shortage of staff in sectors where European Union workers have made up the shortfalls

It's estimated the UK's new immigration policy will mean 140,000 fewer EU migrants coming to Britain to work

(PA)

When is an Australian-style immigration points system not an Australian-style immigration points system? When the Home Office designs it, obviously.

Instead of an intricate scoring system as the Australians prefer, the British system is basically based on a relatively modest salary floor of £25,600, and even that can be relaxed in so-called shortage professions. There is no points-based system as such, other than for a small number of the most highly-skilled arrivals.

Under Priti Patel’s scheme, overseas workers who wanted to come to the UK would also have to speak English and have the offer of a skilled job with an “approved sponsor”. In total, immigrants would have to reach 70 points to be able to work in the UK. For example, you get 10 points for a PhD; 20 points for a PhD in a science-related subject.