Thursday, July 12, 2012
Vince nails it again
Today's Telegraph reports on the characteristically forthright remarks of Business Secretary, Vince Cable as he continues to fly the flag for Liberalism within the Coalition Government.
Vince has warned that tough new entry requirements for students may be "damaging" Britain's reputation as a good place to study. He has also claimed there is a “powerful constituency” arguing for more restrictions on immigration that could stop bright students coming to the UK.
The paper say that Vince's comments are likely to be seen as a swipe at the Prime Minister's promise to limit non-European citizens coming into Britain to the tens of thousands, rather than hundreds of thousands. They add that university chiefs from across Britain have warned that tough new visa restrictions imposed by the Home Office are driving applicants to study in other countries.
In a speech last night, Dr Cable indicated any limits on legitimate foreign students coming to the UK is a threat to scientific excellence.
“This country's ongoing scientific prowess depends to an ever greater extent on openness: our ability to attract creative minds to these shores, the exchange of students,” Dr Cable said.
“This might seem obvious but there is always a powerful constituency arguing for closed minds and closed borders.”
Dr Cable said pioneering scientific experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, depend on collaboration between academics across borders.
He said Britain must encourage “brain circulation” between borders in contrast to the “brain drain” of the 1960s.
Vince is quite right and he should keep on saying these things until the Prime Minister takes notice.
Vince has warned that tough new entry requirements for students may be "damaging" Britain's reputation as a good place to study. He has also claimed there is a “powerful constituency” arguing for more restrictions on immigration that could stop bright students coming to the UK.
The paper say that Vince's comments are likely to be seen as a swipe at the Prime Minister's promise to limit non-European citizens coming into Britain to the tens of thousands, rather than hundreds of thousands. They add that university chiefs from across Britain have warned that tough new visa restrictions imposed by the Home Office are driving applicants to study in other countries.
In a speech last night, Dr Cable indicated any limits on legitimate foreign students coming to the UK is a threat to scientific excellence.
“This country's ongoing scientific prowess depends to an ever greater extent on openness: our ability to attract creative minds to these shores, the exchange of students,” Dr Cable said.
“This might seem obvious but there is always a powerful constituency arguing for closed minds and closed borders.”
Dr Cable said pioneering scientific experiments, such as the Large Hadron Collider, depend on collaboration between academics across borders.
He said Britain must encourage “brain circulation” between borders in contrast to the “brain drain” of the 1960s.
Vince is quite right and he should keep on saying these things until the Prime Minister takes notice.
