Top scientists call for rethink on immigration controls

Senior figures from the world of science and engineering have today called for an urgent rethink on the Government’s proposals to drastically limit potential settlement rights for immigrants, warning that the changes could damage the UK’s science and engineering base.

The individuals, who include two former Presidents of the Royal Society and the current Director of the Wellcome Trust, have argued that special consideration needs to be given to the long-term nature of science and engineering research.

Their comments came in a letter, coordinated by the Campaign for Science and Engineering, and published in today’s edition of The Times. The letter and its full list of 20 signatories is available on the CaSE website.

The letter states that the UK’s research success has been made possible by our global outlook, that the new settlement restrictions would particularly damage our potential for collaborating with emerging economies such as India and China – and that, with regard to the immigrant scientists and engineers themselves, “the UK needs them more than they need us”.