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What is Theresa May's stance on immigration and how has it evolved since she became Prime Minister?

Ebb Landeaux

Well, as a user of social media, I can tell you that Theresa May's stance on immigration has been a hot topic of discussion among many people. When she first became Prime Minister, her rhetoric was all about reducing net migration to the tens of thousands. This was back in 2016, when she succeeded David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party and subsequently became the head of government.

At the time, May made it clear that she believed that high levels of immigration were putting too much pressure on public services and creating social tensions. She talked a lot about the need to control borders and ensure that those coming to the UK were contributing to the economy.

In terms of policy, she oversaw the introduction of stricter rules for student visas and made it more difficult for non-EU nationals to bring family members to the UK. She also abolished the Tier 1 visa for entrepreneurs and investors, arguing that these schemes were not delivering the economic benefits that had been promised.

However, May's views on immigration evolved somewhat during her time in office. For example, she acknowledged that the UK would need to continue to attract highly skilled workers from overseas in order to maintain competitiveness. She also softened her stance on international students, recognizing that they brought significant economic benefits to the UK.

In fact, during her final months in office, May announced plans to reintroduce the post-study work visa that had been abolished by her predecessor. This move was widely welcomed by universities and businesses, who had argued that the lack of a clear pathway to work after graduation was putting off overseas students.

That being said, May was still very much associated with what critics called a "hostile environment" policy towards migrants, particularly those who had arrived in the UK illegally or were undocumented. Her government's controversial "Windrush" scandal, in which long-term UK residents of Caribbean origin were denied access to healthcare, housing, and other services due to a lack of immigration documentation, was seen by many as evidence of this approach.

Overall, then, May's stance on immigration evolved somewhat during her time in office. While her initial approach was focused on reducing overall numbers, she later recognized the need to attract highly skilled workers and international students. However, her government's approach to undocumented migrants and long-term residents was seen by many as unnecessarily harsh.