British officials splurging on taxpayers' money is nothing new, but former foreign secretary James Cleverly might come among the top spenders, having blown up around 165,561 pounds on a trip to Rwanda with officials and a TV crew. That trip, which works out to 655 pounds per person, was for a Quixotic deportation deal of Britain with Rwanda that eventually did not send even a single person to the African nation.

Cleverly, who was vying for the leadership of Conservatives just recently before being ousted from the race, took the trip in December 2023, according to a report in The Guardian on Monday (Oct 21). The 11-hour trip was to the Rwandan capital of Kigali to sign a deportation deal to house asylum seekers in the African nation.

As per details obtained under a Freedom of Information request, Cleverly used a chartered private jet whose in-flight catering expenses alone were more than 9,800 pounds. The TV crew paid for its own food.

Watch: UK Public Finances under spotlight as Labour announces spending cuts

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The catering cost included transporting of cookware. The deal which Cleverly signed at the time was part of the Rwanda Bill introduced by the Tory government, which the new Labour administration of Prime Minister Kier Starmer overturned soon after coming into power.

The bill, described by Labour as a gimmick and a waste of money, was dead on arrival as the then Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could not overcome legal challenges and political opposition to operate the flights that were to have taken the migrants to the African nation.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-labour-party-received-gifts-worth-1bn-from-betting-and-gambling-firms-763889">Also read: UK's Labour Party received gifts worth $1bn from betting and gambling firms</a>

The Guardian report also said that during his stint as the former foreign secretary, Cleverly spent more than 22,320 pounds on in-flight catering during a July 2023 journey of five nations, including Japan and Indonesia.

That works out to 1,488 per person. The full cost of the flights for Cleverly and his 14-person entourage was 561,531 pounds.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/keir-starmer-unwilling-to-proceed-with-rwanda-migrant-deportation-plan-738517">Also read: UK PM Keir Starmer unwilling to proceed with Rwanda migrant deportation plan</a>

The Guardian quoted a Labour Party source as saying that, despite spending 700 million pounds on the Rwanda scheme, including Cleverly’s flight to Kigali, the Tories "did not stop one small boat or deport one single person as a result of that scheme."

“On the contrary, 84,000 people crossed the Channel from the day the scheme was introduced to the day it was scrapped, and the only people who ended up in Rwanda were four volunteers," said the source.

(With inputs from agencies)

British officials splurging on taxpayers' money is nothing new, but former foreign secretary James Cleverly might come among the top spenders, having blown up around 165,561 pounds on a trip to Rwanda with officials and a TV crew.

British officials splurging on taxpayers' money is nothing new, but former foreign secretary James Cleverly might come among the top spenders, having blown up around 165,561 pounds on a trip to Rwanda with officials and a TV crew. That trip, which works out to 655 pounds per person, was for a Quixotic deportation deal of Britain with Rwanda that eventually did not send even a single person to the African nation. Cleverly, who was vying for the leadership of Conservatives just recently before being ousted from the race, took the trip in December 2023, according to a report in The Guardian on Monday (Oct 21). The 11-hour trip was to the Rwandan capital of Kigali to sign a deportation deal to house asylum seekers in the African nation. As per details obtained under a Freedom of Information request, Cleverly used a chartered private jet whose in-flight catering expenses alone were more than 9,800 pounds. The TV crew paid for its own food. Watch: UK Public Finances under spotlight as Labour announces spending cuts × The catering cost included transporting of cookware. The deal which Cleverly signed at the time was part of the Rwanda Bill introduced by the Tory government, which the new Labour administration of Prime Minister Kier Starmer overturned soon after coming into power. The bill, described by Labour as a gimmick and a waste of money, was dead on arrival as the then Tory Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could not overcome legal challenges and political opposition to operate the flights that were to have taken the migrants to the African nation. Also read: UK's Labour Party received gifts worth $1bn from betting and gambling firms The Guardian report also said that during his stint as the former foreign secretary, Cleverly spent more than 22,320 pounds on in-flight catering during a July 2023 journey of five nations, including Japan and Indonesia. That works out to 1,488 per person. The full cost of the flights for Cleverly and his 14-person entourage was 561,531 pounds. Also read: UK PM Keir Starmer unwilling to proceed with Rwanda migrant deportation plan The Guardian quoted a Labour Party source as saying that, despite spending 700 million pounds on the Rwanda scheme, including Cleverly’s flight to Kigali, the Tories "did not stop one small boat or deport one single person as a result of that scheme." “On the contrary, 84,000 people crossed the Channel from the day the scheme was introduced to the day it was scrapped, and the only people who ended up in Rwanda were four volunteers," said the source. (With inputs from agencies)

James Cleverly, UK ex-home secy, spent tens of thousands of pounds on a Rwanda trip, all for nothing

In a blow to Indian techies, the new United Kingdom government has indicated plans to cut down on overseas hiring by technology and engineering companies.&nbsp;

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the dependence by these sectors on skilled worker visas.

On Wednesday (Aug 7), Cooper wrote to the MAC Chair saying there is a need to understand why key occupations remain heavily dependent on international recruitment.&nbsp;

She was keen to cite information technology and telecommunications professionals as well as engineering professionals among sectors that have been top users of work visas.

"The Government values their skills and the vitality they bring to Britain…The system needs to be managed and controlled," Cooper said. "The current levels of international recruitment are not sustainable in the longer term and continue to indicate ongoing UK skills shortages," she added.

The UK home secretary also&nbsp;said that the government wants to bring down migration by implementing an approach that is linked towards policy on skills, leading to a fairer and more coherent approach towards the labour market.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/wayanad-landslides-pm-modi-conducts-aerial-survey-of-disaster-hit-areas-meets-victims-families-748975">PM Modi conducts aerial survey of Wayanad, meets victims' families</a>

"The system as it exists is not operating in the national interest. This Government will deliver a fair, coherent, more joined-up approach to the labour market by linking immigration with skills policy," she added.

However, recent Home Office statistics reveal a significant fall in visa applications from students and skilled workers. This comes&nbsp;months after&nbsp;the policy on family dependents&nbsp;tightened.&nbsp;

According to Home Office data, compared with the same period last year, the number of visa applications for main applicants and their dependents in key UK visa categories — skilled worker, health and care, and study — has dipped by a whopping 35 per cent, that is 187,900, between&nbsp;January to July 2024.&nbsp;

A spokesman from the UK Home Office said, "Immigration brings many benefits to the UK, but it must be controlled and delivered through a fair system."

(With inputs from agencies)

In a blow to Indian techies, the new United Kingdom government has indicated plans to cut down on overseas hiring by technology and engineering companies. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the dependence by these sectors on skilled worker visas.

In a blow to Indian techies, the new United Kingdom government has indicated plans to cut down on overseas hiring by technology and engineering companies. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to review the dependence by these sectors on skilled worker visas. On Wednesday (Aug 7), Cooper wrote to the MAC Chair saying there is a need to understand why key occupations remain heavily dependent on international recruitment. She was keen to cite information technology and telecommunications professionals as well as engineering professionals among sectors that have been top users of work visas. "The Government values their skills and the vitality they bring to Britain…The system needs to be managed and controlled," Cooper said. "The current levels of international recruitment are not sustainable in the longer term and continue to indicate ongoing UK skills shortages," she added. The UK home secretary also said that the government wants to bring down migration by implementing an approach that is linked towards policy on skills, leading to a fairer and more coherent approach towards the labour market. Also read: PM Modi conducts aerial survey of Wayanad, meets victims' families "The system as it exists is not operating in the national interest. This Government will deliver a fair, coherent, more joined-up approach to the labour market by linking immigration with skills policy," she added. However, recent Home Office statistics reveal a significant fall in visa applications from students and skilled workers. This comes months after the policy on family dependents tightened. According to Home Office data, compared with the same period last year, the number of visa applications for main applicants and their dependents in key UK visa categories — skilled worker, health and care, and study — has dipped by a whopping 35 per cent, that is 187,900, between January to July 2024. A spokesman from the UK Home Office said, "Immigration brings many benefits to the UK, but it must be controlled and delivered through a fair system." (With inputs from agencies)

UK government set to crack down on overseas hiring. Here's how it will affect Indians

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has said that the borders bill will end appalling, blatant abuse of the immigration and the asylum system.

She took to microblogging platform Twitter and said, ''We're changing UK laws to introduce new scientific methods for assessing the age of asylum seekers to stop these appalling abuses.''

In the latest crackdown against migrants, adults who pose as child asylum seekers could face X-ray age checks on borders.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-announces-harsher-sentences-for-channel-migrants-395743">Also read |&nbsp;UK announces harsher sentences for Channel migrants</a>

"The practice of single grown adult men, masquerading as children claiming asylum is an appalling abuse of our system which we will end," Patel said in a statement.

A new committee will look at a range of scientific methods for determining age and assess their accuracy and reliability as well as considering medical and ethical issues.

The UK government's Nationality and Borders Bill is currently before parliament, promising tougher action against people smugglers and, controversially, migrants themselves.

If passed, the bill, opposed by rights groups, will allow the return of asylum seekers who have passed through so-called "safe third countries".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-tells-uk-to-get-serious-over-english-channel-migrant-issue-432185">Also read |&nbsp;Macron tells UK to 'get serious' over English Channel migrant issue</a>

According to analysis of Home Office data, last year, record numbers of more than 28,000 migrants who paid thousands of pounds to people traffickers arrived in the UK in often flimsy boats.

This was more than triple the numbers seen in 2020, with the higher numbers attributed to the smugglers' use of bigger boats to navigate one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.&nbsp;

Tragically, 27 migrants drowned off France on November 24 after they attempted to cross in a boat likened by French officials to a children's inflatable pool.

The high number of migrants crossing to Britain from mainland Europe has become a political headache for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The flow of migrants has also soured Britain's relations with France, prompting an unseemly blame game even as both sides try to disrupt the people trafficking networks.&nbsp;

 
(With inputs from agencies)

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has said that the borders bill will end appalling, blatant abuse of the immigration and the asylum system. She took to microblogging platform Twitter and said, ''We're changing UK laws to introduce new scientific methods for assessing the age of asylum seekers to stop these appalling abuses.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel has said that the borders bill will end appalling, blatant abuse of the immigration and the asylum system. She took to microblogging platform Twitter and said, ''We're changing UK laws to introduce new scientific methods for assessing the age of asylum seekers to stop these appalling abuses.'' In the latest crackdown against migrants, adults who pose as child asylum seekers could face X-ray age checks on borders. Also read | UK announces harsher sentences for Channel migrants "The practice of single grown adult men, masquerading as children claiming asylum is an appalling abuse of our system which we will end," Patel said in a statement. A new committee will look at a range of scientific methods for determining age and assess their accuracy and reliability as well as considering medical and ethical issues. The UK government's Nationality and Borders Bill is currently before parliament, promising tougher action against people smugglers and, controversially, migrants themselves. If passed, the bill, opposed by rights groups, will allow the return of asylum seekers who have passed through so-called "safe third countries". Also read | Macron tells UK to 'get serious' over English Channel migrant issue According to analysis of Home Office data, last year, record numbers of more than 28,000 migrants who paid thousands of pounds to people traffickers arrived in the UK in often flimsy boats. This was more than triple the numbers seen in 2020, with the higher numbers attributed to the smugglers' use of bigger boats to navigate one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Tragically, 27 migrants drowned off France on November 24 after they attempted to cross in a boat likened by French officials to a children's inflatable pool. The high number of migrants crossing to Britain from mainland Europe has become a political headache for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The flow of migrants has also soured Britain's relations with France, prompting an unseemly blame game even as both sides try to disrupt the people trafficking networks. (With inputs from agencies)

Priti Patel says borders bill will end appalling abuse of immigration

The United Kingdom has denied visas&nbsp;to over 1,600 skilled engineers and IT specialists who were offered jobs in the UK between December and March BBC reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, the authorities have cited the reason that they were denied because the number of monthly applying visas exceeded during that period.

Amid the ongoing Brexit issue, locals of UK are threatened with people coming out of UK for employment thus the government has asked employers to focus on recruiting from the UK before looking overseas.

However, reports say that most economists have shown concern on the immigration policy of UK as it may hamper the government's efforts to develop a high-tech economy as hiring talents from other countries would help in innovation.

As per the report of BBC, the home office of UK received a high volume of applications from employers who had offered jobs to workers outside the UK.

Between December and March, 1,226 IT specialists and 383 engineers reportedly denied visas while 1,876 medical professionals and people working in the healthcare sector, 197 teachers and 584 other professions were unable to take up their job offers in the UK due to the formality issues in the UK.

The yearly limit for non-European Union workers to get work visas is set at 20,700 per year with a monthly limit of about 1,600.

Last year in October media reports said that as the British government is seeking to slash the number of immigrants from the European Union following UK's departure there are over 11,000 job vacancies in healthcare service sector.&nbsp;

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According to the report, the authorities have cited the reason that they were denied because the number of monthly applying visas exceeded during that period

The United Kingdom has denied visas to over 1,600 skilled engineers and IT specialists who were offered jobs in the UK between December and March BBC reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the authorities have cited the reason that they were denied because the number of monthly applying visas exceeded during that period. Amid the ongoing Brexit issue, locals of UK are threatened with people coming out of UK for employment thus the government has asked employers to focus on recruiting from the UK before looking overseas. However, reports say that most economists have shown concern on the immigration policy of UK as it may hamper the government's efforts to develop a high-tech economy as hiring talents from other countries would help in innovation. As per the report of BBC, the home office of UK received a high volume of applications from employers who had offered jobs to workers outside the UK. Between December and March, 1,226 IT specialists and 383 engineers reportedly denied visas while 1,876 medical professionals and people working in the healthcare sector, 197 teachers and 584 other professions were unable to take up their job offers in the UK due to the formality issues in the UK. The yearly limit for non-European Union workers to get work visas is set at 20,700 per year with a monthly limit of about 1,600. Last year in October media reports said that as the British government is seeking to slash the number of immigrants from the European Union following UK's departure there are over 11,000 job vacancies in healthcare service sector.

UK denies visa to over 1000 IT professionals and engineers