UK eyes post-Brexit migration regime based on trade deals

The UK is preparing a post-Brexit immigration regime that will give preferential access to citizens from countries that strike comprehensive trade deals with Britain, according to people briefed on the government’s plans.

The overhaul by the Home Office is partly intended to honour the government’s pledge to end the free movement of people to Britain from the European Economic Area — the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

However, for countries that strike deep trade deals with the UK, the new immigration regime is expected to offer preferential access rights to their citizens — when seeking to work in Britain, or just visit — compared with people from nations with less comprehensive agreements.

EEA citizens are expected to enjoy some of the biggest advantages under the regime because the UK is aiming to finalise a comprehensive trade deal with the EU after Brexit.

“There’s now a kind of agreement across government departments that there cannot be preferential treatment for EU citizens on their own, but it will be a preferential category for those that we trade with that don’t represent a security risk,” said one person briefed on the government’s plans.

“There will be one system for Europeans and non-Europeans,” added another person. “It will be easier for some countries and not others.”

The accounts by people briefed on the Home Office plans chime with comments by home secretary Sajid Javid in July before the Commons home affairs select committee.

He told MPs there was no “magical reason” why preferential rights for talented workers from overseas should be confined to EU citizens.

The new immigration regime will be outlined in a Home Office white paper due to be published later this year after several delays.

The Home Office has stressed that its plans depend partly on the findings of the Migration Advisory Committee, an expert body, and it is due to publish a report on the effect of EEA citizens on UK society on Tuesday.

The plans could also change depending on negotiations across government and the outcome of the Brexit talks with the EU.

The white paper is expected to include proposals for new visas for medium-skilled workers wanting to come to the UK.

In addition, the Home Office is likely to propose some schemes for industries facing labour shortages, such as adult social care.

These schemes — which will be open to limited numbers of applicants — are likely to be similar to the trial seasonal agricultural workers’ scheme announced by the Home Office last week.

The Home Office said it was preparing a post-Brexit immigration system which worked “in the best interests of the UK”.

“We are considering a range of options that will ensure we are in control of our borders and managing migration, while continuing to attract and retain people who come here to work and bring significant benefits,” it added.

Diane Abbott, shadow home secretary, on Thursday committed a future Labour government to a reformed system of work visas tailored to meeting the UK’s skills shortages in key areas, such as social care.