Gillian Keegan News

Skilled Worker route, the Graduate Visa allows flexible job switches, voluntary work, and self-employment. The Graduate Visa also allows the holder to travel abroad and later return to the UK.

post-study visa which allows graduates to stay on and work for up to two years after their degree course as part of efforts to curb soaring legal migration figures despite strong opposition from some of his ministers, a report claims on Sunday. According to 'The Observer' newspaper, Sunak is facing a Cabinet revolt over plans to scrap the Graduate Route scheme, the definitive factor for choosing UK universities among Indian students who have topped the tally of these post-study visas since it was launched in 2021. Downing Street is said to be considering «further restricting or even ending» the route despite the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) declaring it was not being abused and that it should continue as it helps UK universities make up for financial losses on the domestic front. «Sunak is now finding himself caught between the demands of right-wingers with one eye on the Tory leadership and Conservative moderates who fear the consequences of a lurch to the right on the party's reputation and election chances,» claims the newspaper, quoting sources close to ministers who oppose scrapping the visa.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to announce a crackdown on agents marketing graduate visa schemes overseas, aiming to project a tough stance on migration before this year’s general elections. This comes after UK's university regulator warned of severe financial strains on institutions due to a decline in international student numbers. According to a Financial Times report, the new measures, anticipated to be revealed next week, will coincide with the release of quarterly migration data from the Home Office and the Office for National Statistics. The crackdown could involve mandatory registration for agents and fines for malpractice. Want to know if you qualify for immigration? Click here Sunak is also considering stricter criteria for the graduate visa scheme, potentially limiting visas to the «best and the brightest.» However, this approach has not yet been formally discussed with ministers. This proposal faces resistance from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, who worry about the financial impact on universities if international student numbers drop further.

Gillian Keegan, the UK's Education Secretary, found herself in the spotlight after being inadvertently recorded expressing frustration over the handling of the school building crisis. Following an interview with ITV, Keegan was caught on a live microphone questioning the lack of acknowledgment for her department's efforts in addressing the ongoing school concrete crisis. In an unguarded moment, she candidly remarked, «Does anyone ever say you've done a good job because everyone else has sat on their a** and done nothing?» She followed this with a rueful, «Any sign of that, no?» A source from Downing Street promptly condemned Keegan's comments, describing them as «completely wrong», as reported by BBC.

National Education Union (NEU), representing teachers in England, has decided against striking in the autumn term after accepting the government's pay offer. With 86% of its members voting in favor, the UK's largest teaching union agreed to a 6.5% pay rise. Both parties involved in the dispute assured that the pay offer was «properly funded» and would not be deducted from existing school budgets. The acceptance of the offer was deemed «good news» for teachers, parents, and pupils by Education Secretary Gillian Keegan.