Main content

What is immigration for?

Is a points based system the best way to decide who comes to a country - and should the economy take priority over historic links and family ties?

In his first speech to the British parliament as Prime Minister, Boris Johnson promised a “radical” overhaul of the British immigration system modelled on an Australian-style points-based system where applicants are judged on the contribution they could make to the economy. Concerns about immigration are said to be one of the main driving factors behind Brexit - with many voters unhappy with the rapid pace of change in their communities. So, what will be the shape of a future British immigration system? Is a points based system the best way to decide who comes to a country - and should the economy take priority over historic links and family ties? Why is the Australian model so often cited? And what does locking out low skilled immigrants do for a society’s ability to function? Join Chris Morris and guests as they tackle these questions.

Available now

53 minutes

Last on

Sat 3 Aug 2019 03:06GMT

Contributors

Neil Anderson -Migration Watch,UK

Madeleine Sumption -Director, Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford

Demetrious Papademetriou -Distinguished Transatlantic Fellow, Migration Policy Institute, Washington

Also featuring:

Alexander Downer - Former Australian Foreign Minister

Mohammad Bhuiyan-Bangladeshi-American migrant

Photo

UK and EU Bordersigns in London Stansted airport. Credit: GettyImages

Broadcasts

  • Fri 2 Aug 2019 08:06GMT
  • Fri 2 Aug 2019 23:06GMT
  • Sat 3 Aug 2019 02:06GMT
  • Sat 3 Aug 2019 03:06GMT

The Real Story Podcast

Subscribe via your favourite podcast app...

Podcast