We either cut immigration or have a properly staffed NHS. We can’t do both | Jonathan Portes

Many experienced nurses will be deported as a result of new visa rules – this will be catastrophic for the NHS and the economy as a whole

Four years ago, the Home Office proposed that skilled migrants should only be allowed to stay in the UK for six years. After that, unless they were earning more than £35,000, they would have to leave – regardless of how well they were doing in their job. At the time, I and other economists warned that the policy could almost have been designed to deter the migrants the UK most needs; and, for those who do come, to expel many of those we would most like to remain.

Related: New immigration rules will cost the NHS millions, warns nursing union

This is far from the best of times for the NHS, with funding already extremely tight and likely to become even more so

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