Are the UK government’s new visas just a gimmick?
Boris Johnson announces Global Talent visa to show UK is ‘open to talented minds’

Boris Johnson is unveiling a new visa system which he claims will “show that the UK is open to the most talented minds in the world” - but which opposition parties have dismissed as a gimmick.
Announcing the new Global Talent visa, which will replace the so-called Tier 1 visa, the prime minister said: “The UK has a proud history of scientific discovery, but to lead the field and face the challenges of the future we need to continue to invest in talent and cutting edge research.
“That is why, as we leave the EU, I want to send a message that the UK is open to the most talented minds in the world, and stands ready to support them to turn their ideas into reality.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Downing Street says research funding for advanced mathematics will be boosted and cash for PhD students doubled, in what The Times says is “the latest sign of the influence of Dominic Cummings, Mr Johnson’s senior adviser”.
However, opposition parties say the Global Talent visa is little more than a gimmick, noting the cap of 2,000 admissions under the old system has never been hit.
Christine Jardine, the Liberal Democrats home affairs spokeswoman, said: “If the Government is serious about championing UK science, it must prioritise continued mobility as part of our future relationship with the EU.”
A clampdown on low-skilled migrants from the EU will also soon be launched. Dismissing claims that the new restrictions would hurt the economy, Home Secretary Priti Patel said businesses had become “far too reliant” on “cheap labour from the EU”.
Speaking to Sky News, Patel said that it was “about time” companies invested in British workers and new equipment instead of low-skilled EU migrants.
“We are absolutely determined to change the immigration system, end the complexity of the immigration system, have simpler rules, have a points-based system where we can absolutely have people that bring the right kind of skills for our labour market,” she said.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Anne Hillerman's 6 favorite books with Native characters
Feature The author recommends works by Ramona Emerson, Craig Johnson, and more
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
Book reviews: '1861: The Lost Peace' and 'Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers'
Feature How America tried to avoid the Civil War and the link between lead pollution and serial killers
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from
-
Court allows National Guard in LA as Dodgers repel feds
Speed Read The team said they 'denied entry' to ICE agents seeking to enter their stadium
-
ICE arrests NYC comptroller at courthouse
Speed Read Brad Lander was held for about four hours before being released
-
Is the G7 still relevant?
Talking Point Donald Trump's early departure cast a shadow over this week's meeting of the world's major democracies
-
Trump tells ICE to hit blue cities, spare farms, hotels
Speed Read Trump has targeted New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles among other cities
-
Trump's LA immigration showdown casts shadow over upcoming World Cup
IN THE SPOTLIGHT Amid a massive anti-immigrant detention push, analysts have begun to worry about the United States' plan to host one of the world's biggest athletic events
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Is Trump's LA troop deployment about order or authoritarianism?
Talking Points President: 'We're going to have troops everywhere.'