Sajid Javid has said there will be further consultation on a widely expected £30,000 salary threshold for skilled workers as the government prepares to publish a long-awaited white paper on immigration.
The home secretary declined to reiterate Theresa May’s 2017 election manifesto pledge to bring net migration down to “tens of thousands” as he struggled to give details about the government’s post-Brexit plans for the UK.
It follows cabinet rows over the white paper, which was supposed to be published earlier this year. Philip Hammond, the chancellor, and Greg Clark, the business secretary, were among ministers opposed to the plans over concerns that they would severely restrict businesses and the NHS from recruiting staff.
In an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, Javid said the £30,000 threshold would be “discussed further”, despite widespread reports that it would be a central plank of the white paper.
“We are not setting the exact threshold today. There will be a threshold. The MAC [migration advisory committee] suggested it should be £30,000,” he said.
“While that is their view … it is equally important to listen to business and find the right threshold. So we will be setting out today, we shall consult further on whether it is £30,000 or thereabouts.”
Final drafts of key passages of the white paper were still passing between departments on Tuesday night. However, the paper is expected to make clear the government is not prepared to give EU nationals preferential access to Britain’s labour market after Brexit.
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