Prime Minister Liz Truss Clashes with Conservative Cabinet over Revised Overseas Worker Visa Eligibility

Truss’ immigration plans opposed by cabinet

Prime Minister Liz Truss is facing backlash with her cabinet over her plans to loosen immigration to allow for foreign workers to come to the UK to pick up the slack of the labour workforce, in the hopes to return the currently crashing UK economy back to business as usual.

Truss is overseeing a reform of the current UK visa system to allow for more workers to come from overseas. However, this new plan is facing fierce opposition from her Conservative cabinet peers; Home Secretary and pro strict UK immigration campaigner Suella Braverman, Jacob Rees Mogg, and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch are among the opposers.

The plan to revise the overseas worker visa

Truss plans to ease the tight rules and review the shortage occupations list and lift the cap on seasonal agricultural worker in order for key sectors to employ more staff. Truss hopes that this immigration move may help to ease the pressure of national worker shortages too.

It has also been discussed whether Truss will lift the English language requirement in order to create a broader net of eligible candidates from overseas. This has yet to be confirmed by the Prime Minister.

Rees Mogg has stated that he could support Truss in her decision to lift strict immigration rules for particular visas, but only if it benefits the UK pound per capita. Currently, it has been estimated that since Truss’ brief employment as Prime Minster, the UK has lost over £500 billion in stocks and bonds.

The long term effects of Truss’ plans as it stands

This news came just days before Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced he would cut the highest income tax by 50%, further shattering investors confidence in the UK’s new PM.

This move will create an increase in interest rates, cause inflation to skyrocket and as a result make living and working in the UK more of a challenge for the overseas labour workforce she intends to open immigration gates for.

In the throes of a national recession, this immigration move conducted by Truss may provide uncertain results for the UK’s economy. The cost of living crisis further impacts the lives of the labour workforce, and with the value of the UK pound sterling at an all time record low, the value of her plans to welcome an overseas workforce proves to be futile.