The exceptional pace of demographic change in many British cities has put services such as schools under enormous strain, however UKIP leader has come up with a potential solution – by banning new arrivals from using them.
As part of a move to encourage financially independent migrants, or those with a solid prospect of well rewarded work after arrival, Farage has suggested there should be a five year moratorium on new arrivals using state funded schools. The idea is likely to prove extremely controversial, and Farage himself has admitted the area is “difficult”, but he has insisted for the time being, this won’t be a manifesto pledge.
The idea is part of a raft of measures to reduce dependence on the state, working in tandem with an Australian points-based system which admits migrants based on their merit and utility to their new home. As the UKIP website states: “Immigrants must financially support themselves and their dependants for five years. This means private health insurance (except emergency medical care), education and housing – they should pay into the pot before they take out of it”.
There would be no restriction of migrants from sending their children to private schools.
The Guardian reports the remarks of the UKIP leader on the issue: “Basically, people would bring dependants, not immediately. They would bring them after a period of time.
“I think the most important thing is that those that come do have healthcare. That’s really, really important, and on the life-threatening disease stuff, that’s perfectly clear … The dependants thing is much more difficult. But I wouldn’t foresee people coming into Britain immediately being allowed to bring children to go through the state system. Except for very high earners, it wouldn’t be very relevant”.
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