UK Tory MPs are to call for immigration visas to be sold to the highest bidders

03/06/2013

A GROUP of Tory MPs are to call for immigration visas to be sold to the highest bidders.

Under their proposal, foreign tycoons could make offers to pay to come to live in Britain. Overseas-based firms could also bid for visas for their employees.

Backbench MPs from the Free Enterprise Group claim the measure would attract business people who were more likely to contribute to the UK. They also believe the plan would cut the number of immigrants likely to claim benefits.

The proposal is among a string of measures put forward in a report setting out a new blueprint for an “industrial policy”.

The document, written by Tory MPs George Freeman and Kwasi Kwarteng, urged ministers to “introduce market-based immigration visas”.

Selling visas to companies or individuals would be less bureaucratic than today’s system

Kwasi Kwarteng, MP

It said: “The Government should reform our immigration system to make it easier for entrepreneurs, stop welfare eligibility for immigrants, and auction visas to companies or high net worth individuals.