Letter: When CEO graduate visa warnings ring hollow

I’m not sure the FT made the best case for preserving the graduate visa scheme by headlining warnings from Anglo American, Rio Tinto and Severn Trent that abolition of the scheme would threaten their firms’ investment in Britain (“Business leaders warn Sunak that Tory migration policy threatens investment”, Report, May 16). None of these companies is renowned for a burgeoning or successful UK investment programme. Indeed one of them — Rio Tinto — disposed of all its British operations many years ago.

Anglo American announced the deferral of its one significant UK project (the proposed Woodsmith fertiliser mine) this month — and I don’t think a threatened shortage of locally resident foreign graduates was to blame.

As for Severn Trent, its investment programme — like that of its peers in the water sector — has been the subject of much recent comment, most criticising its alleged inadequacy.

Charles Mercey
Tellisford, Somerset, UK