Suella Braverman news – latest: Home Secretary in fresh code breach claims after speeding row

Downing Street has insisted the Government’s new rules relating to overseas students “strike the right balance” in controlling net migration.

A major tightening of immigration rules will prevent overseas students bringing tens of thousands of dependants to the UK under plans announced by the home secretary today.

No 10 was asked whether Rishi Sunak had considered claims the measures would disproportionately affect women especially from countries such as Nigeria who make up the large bulk of dependants.

The prime minister’s official spokesman said: “We believe this strikes the right balance between acting decisively on net migration and ensuring we remain competitive in attracting international students.”

Downing Street also rejected suggestions the Government has lost control of net migration ahead of official figures being published this week.

A No 10 spokesman said: “I don’t agree with the characterisation. Post-Brexit, the Government does have control of its points-based immigration system.”

Downing Street said significant factors in recent months have had an effect on levels of people entering the country, including the “generosity of the British public” towards people fleeing Ukraine.

Official figures due to be released on Thursday are expected to show net migration at record levels.

MPs are “free to express their view”, Downing Street said when asked about claims by allies of Suella Braverman that the Home Secretary is the victim of a “witch-hunt” over her handling of a speeding offence.

Former minister Sir Edward Leigh earlier said the “moral outrage is ludicrous” and a far cry from “proper scandals”.

Asked whether Rishi Sunak agreed, his official spokesman said: “MPs are free to express their view.

“From the Prime Minister’s perspective, he thinks that when issues are raised they should be considered properly. That’s the process that he has established previously and is adhering to now.”

Downing Street has rejected suggestions that Rishi Sunak is dithering over whether to launch a formal probe into Suella Braverman’s conduct.

Asked why the prime minister is dithering, his official spokesman told reporters: “I wouldn’t characterise it like that.

“I think people would understand that it’s right to gather all the facts before making a decision.”

Pressed on why Mr Sunak is carrying out an investigation himself when he has an independent adviser on ministers’ interests, the spokesman said: “That’s not how I’d characterise it.

“He’s asked for some more information before coming to a decision. I’m sure we will have more to say once that’s concluded.”

Allies of Suella Braverman have claimed she is the victim of a “witch-hunt” over her handling of a speeding offence.

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis said voters were more interested in policies than the “witch-hunt from the party opposite”.

Miriam Cates said: “This leak is a clear attempt to play the woman not the ball, an attempt that undermines our democracy and distracts from the important job of delivering on ordinary people’s priorities.”

And senior Tory MP Sir Charles Walker said Ms Braverman was “not on my Christmas card list and I’m certainly not on hers” – but questioned why the BBC had asked about Braverman row at the G7.

“I find it hard to get my head around the fact that the BBC sent its political editor half way across the world to a G7 conference summit where we were discussing energy security, Ukraine, defence, to ask our prime minister a question about a speed awareness course. This is the question, why, why?”

IPPR thinktank migration expert said the Government’s new immigration rules, targeted at bringing down net immigration will not work because the vast majority of international students do not stay in the UK anyway.

More than 10 per cent of all Tory MPs have said they are planning to stand down at the next general election – with former deputy PM Dominic Raab the latest to announce his departure.

The next election is expected sometime next year, though no official date has yet been set. Despite this, dozens of MPs from across the parties have said they won’t be standing again.

Here are some of the bigger names who have said they won’t be returning to the Commons after voters go to the polls.

Jon Stone and Eleanor Noyce report:

Curbs on overseas students bringing family to the UK may be “damaging” to the pipeline of “international talent” into the country, a union has warned.

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), called the tightening of immigration rules by the Home Office “a vindictive move”.

She said: “Those who choose to study in the UK, no matter where they are from in the world, bring huge value to our society and deserve the right to live alongside their loved ones whilst they study. Instead, they are being treated with contempt.

“It is clear that deep concern is already being felt across the sector as to just how damaging the package of measures announced by the home secretary could be to the pipeline of international talent coming to the UK.

“This is another deeply shameful moment for a Government hell-bent on attacking migrants and undermining our universities.”

Jamie Arrowsmith, director of Universities UK International, said changes to rules on dependants announced by the Government are likely to have a “disproportionate impact on women and students from certain countries”.

He added that Government should limit and monitor the impact of restrictions to student visa routes on universities already under “serious financial pressures.”

He said: “We therefore urge the Government to work with the sector to limit and monitor the impact on particular groups of students - and on universities, which are already under serious financial pressures. The review process that has been announced must consider these issues.

“Ultimately, our collective aim must be to ensure that international students who choose the UK can be confident that they are welcome here, that their contribution is valued, and that the terms on which they have made decisions remain stable.

“Anything that threatens to affect the UK’s global success as a top destination for international talent needs to be considered very carefully.”

However, Mr Arrowsmith said that the “vast majority” of international students will not be affected by the changes to rules on dependents announced by the home secretary.

“I think it’s really hard to say at this stage what the scale of the impact might be,” he told BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme.

“We do know that the vast majority of international students are not accompanied by dependents.

“So the vast majority of students will be unaffected by this change.

“There will of course be some impact, otherwise the Government would not be introducing the change.”

New immigration rules announced by the home secretary today are likely to have a “negative impact” on universities’ plans to diversify their student intakes, the leader of the Russell Group said.

A major tightening of immigration rules will prevent overseas students bringing tens of thousands of dependants to the UK.

Home secretary Suella Braverman told MPs: “This package strikes the right balance between acting decisively on tackling net migration and protecting the economic benefits that students can bring to the UK.

“Now is the time for us to make these changes to ensure an impact on net migration as soon as possible. We expect this package to have a tangible impact on net migration.”

Tim Bradshaw, chief executive of the Russell Group, which represents some of the most selective institutions in the UK, said overseas students bring “vital income to support education for UK students and world-leading research”.

He said: “Global competition for international students is fierce and some of the announcements made today are likely to have a negative impact on universities’ plans to diversify their international student intakes.

“However, we welcome the Government’s recommitment to the graduate route and that students coming to study on postgraduate research programmes will still be able to bring dependants.”

Meanwhile, Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi), said banning overseas students from bringing their families to the UK is not “wise” as these students bring money to the country.

Mr Hillman said he hoped the home secretary will now lobby the chancellor “to help universities recoup their losses” following the announcement.

He said: “This is not a wise move because every part of the UK benefits from the presence of international students and, if they are discouraged from coming to the UK, they won’t stay at home but instead go to our competitors.”

Mr Hillman added: “We do all have to recognise that the big recent surge in dependants has caused some challenges, but this is not a sensible way to address them. As a country, we risk cutting off our nose to spite our face.

“Given that international student fees subsidise the teaching of home students as well as UK research, I hope the Home Secretary will now be lobbying the Chancellor to help universities recoup their losses.”