Companies make case for immigrants but Britain is set on scaring them off

Outlook

Brits can enjoy visa-free travel to 173 countries (EPA)

One of the arguments deployed by opponents of immigration is that it denies opportunities to British citizens, and depresses their wages. The Institute of Directors (IoD) has sought to demolish this argument, setting out a sober, well- researched case with the help of 1,085 of its members who responded to a questionnaire.

The business group found that 51 per cent employed citizens of other countries, among whom just under half were from outside the European Economic Area. That’s an important point because employers looking to hire outside the EEA have to deal with an immigration system that members of the IoD find “restrictive, burdensome and crude”.

In other words, it’s a monumental pain in the… but you can guess the next part. They deal with it because they have to – to get hold of people with the skills they need.

Ah, I hear you say, but if they invested in training then that wouldn’t be an issue.

However, nearly nine in ten (88 per cent) of the respondents do. It makes sense to train and develop staff because it is much cheaper and easier than dealing with a “restrictive, burdensome and crude” immigration system. The trouble is, it takes time to train people, and businesses that leave too many roles unfilled for too long will struggle. So they look overseas.

Which brings us to the reason for the release of the study: the publication of official statistics showing net migration running at an all-time high of 336,000 in the year to June 2015. Cue furious editorials in the right-wing press calling for a hard line to get the Government closer to its knuckle-headed cap on net migration.

There is already evidence that just the existence of that cap is sending out a very bad message that is costing Britain dear. Bright Indian students, who had been filling the coffers of our universities, are increasingly looking elsewhere in response to intimations that they’re not welcome here. Also upset are the Japanese owners of some of the world’s best car plants in George Osborne’s “northern powerhouse”.

Is it worth mentioning here that the economic forecasts on which Mr Osborne is relying assume a certain level of inward migration (the Office for Budgetary Responsibility is to upgrade its forecasts for 2016 and 2017 as a result of it), as do his deficit-reduction and public spending plans, including that u-turn on tax credits.

By indulging in a shrill and emotive debate, this country is engaged in cutting off its nose to spite its face.

The IoD says it isn’t blind to what it describes as “legitimate public concern” about the issue. Nor am I. Which is why, while I don’t always agree with the organisation, I wholeheartedly endorse its call for a “comprehensive review” of immigration policy in an attempt to bring a degree of sanity and sobriety to the discussion.

Sadly, its plea will probably go unheard, and so IoD members forced to hire overseas may just have to stock up on painkillers and blood pressure pills as they square up to authorities that seem to delight in being a pain in the… But, as I said, you can probably guess the next part.