In response to a new Institute for Government
report, Implementing Brexit: Immigration, which
highlights that a new immigration system will not be ready by the
time the UK formally leave the EU, Seamus Nevin, Head of
Employment and Skills Policy at the Institute of Directors, said:
“Businesses are well aware that Brexit means changes to
immigration rules are coming. This report makes clear, however,
that the Home Office still does not have the tools to replace EU
free movement with a bespoke British immigration system.
“A sensible system will be key to UK’s future success but
designing one that strikes the right balance will take time. What
employers don’t want is the instability of having to waste a
great deal of time and effort learning to navigate multiple
rounds of changes and new rules. That would create a bureaucratic
nightmare for recruiters, especially smaller firms. If
something’s worth doing it’s worth doing right, so if that means
continuing with current arrangements for a period of a few years
until the Home Office can put the infrastructure in place to
implement a new system, then it will be worth the wait.
“Sticking with the status quo on immigration for a bit longer
than expected may be a difficult message for politicians to
deliver. However, it should be made clear that the imperative is
to deliver the right exit, and that time will be needed to ensure
that the UK is fully able to make a success of Brexit.”
