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Brexit: Hammond hints at immigration exceptions for skilled workers

The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, has attempted to allay fears in the business world that Brexit will put a stopper on firm’s hiring highly skilled workers by voicing his belief in the importance of foreign talent for continued growth.

At a Treasury select committee yesterday, the Chancellor struck a hopeful note that all European nationals would be allowed to remain in the UK post-Brexit, while also hinting that some of the government’s hardline rhetoric on immigration would inevitably have to be toned down to protect the economy.

The so-called ‘Hard Brexit’ negotiating line, which would seek a total withdrawal from the European single market, has looked increasingly likely in recent months as key Tory party figures have called for a clean break with the continent.

However, the prospect of stringent curbs on immigration from the EU and the rest of the world has drawn widespread condemnation from the business world, particularly the financial and digital sectors, who rely heavily on ready access to skilled foreign workers.

Just yesterday, key figures from the UK tech and digital businesses signed an open letter imploring the government to consider the impact on the economy that a Hard Brexit would entail.

While recognising the need to introduce some curbs on immigration, Hammond commented that there needed to be negotiations which considered the best interests of each industry, mentioning the City of London specifically and his belief that the capital would continue to be a key global financial centre.

Speaking to the parliamentary committee he said: “As we approach the challenge of getting net migration figures down to the tens of thousands it is, in my view, essential that we look at how we do this in a way that protects our economy and protects the vital interests of our economy.”

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