Vince Cable reveals tensions with Theresa May over student visa curb

Divisions: Sir Vince Cable, the former business secretary, made the remarks to a committee today
11 October 2016
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A clampdown on student visas during Theresa May’s time as home secretary led to clashes over support for British industry, Sir Vince Cable said today.

As the future of overseas workers and the country’s visa system comes to the fore in Brexit negotiations, the former business secretary told a Commons committee that he had been at odds with Mrs May’s department on how to further the country’s industrial strategy.

He said: “There weren’t many issues that affected the Home Office but certainly on visa issues and overseas students there was a big division of opinion.

“That actually mattered because we saw higher education as a major successful British export. Clearly there was a clash with the way the Home Office saw it,” said the senior Lib-Dem.

He also criticised the Treasury for not being “enormously enthusiastic” about his plans for an industrial strategy, and described a loss of momentum on industrial support since the end of the Coalition Government.

Sir Vince, former chancellor George Osborne, and former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine were called before the Business Select Committee this morning to answer questions on how Britain creates an industrial strategy, an idea reignited by Mrs May.

Iain Wright MP, the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee chair, said he wanted to hear from the three political heavyweights as they all championed industry during their time in power.

Sir Vince wrote the last industrial strategy in 2012 while serving as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills in the Coalition Government. The 40-page document has not been updated since.

The former Twickenham MP, who lost his seat at the 2015 General Election, praised the work done to further specific sectors, including the creative, aerospace and rail industries.

However, committee member Chris Field MP suggested Sir Vince’s strategy had been “a bit of a secret” and he had only “picked winners”.

Osborne is expected to use his appearance to stress the success of his Northern Powerhouse plan.

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