Ed Davey has urged Keir Starmer to create a new visa route so that Americans seeking to flee the Trump presidency.

Ed Davey has urged Keir Starmer to create a new visa route so that Americans seeking to flee the Trump presidency.

The Lib Dem leader said it should target wealthy Americans so they can “bring their money and their skills” to the UK.

UK immigration lawyers said earlier this week that they have received a spike in inquiries from “mobile, wealthy individuals in tech, law, and the arts” who are “worried about socially conservative policies that Trump could introduce once in office” so they are wanting to move to other countries, such as Britain.

In PMQs, he asked: “An idea for the chancellor to grow the economy: as President-elect Trump prepares to take office next week, there are reports that a number of wealthy, highly-skilled Americans are looking to come to the UK for fear of what President-elect Trump will do to their country.

“But because the Conservatives so broke the immigration system, many of them are finding there is no visa that they can apply for.

“Now I know the Prime Minister is rightly seeking to reduce immigration from the record highs of the Conservatives, but does he agree: if people like this want to come to our country, to bring their money and their skills, so we can grow our economy and pay for our public services, they should be able to?”

    • futatorius@lemm.ee
      5·
      2 days ago

      I left the US during Obama’s time in office, and for family rather than political reasons, but I’ve found that the quality of life here is excellent. My advice: avoid London, which is insanely expensive, overcrowded, polluted, and full of money-grubbing finance weasels and slimy foreign oligarchs and those who pander to them. Also, London has too many Americans from the finance sector, so Americans are not well-liked there. I live in the South West, which has (by English standards at least) good weather, beautiful and varied countryside, and down-to-earth no-bullshit people. Also, their accent is less abrasive than many in England.

      With England, there’s London, which is an international hub city, then there’s the rest of the country. They’re not the same. Make sure to experience both before deciding.

      And yeah, you don’t need to learn a new language, though cultural norms are different and it takes a while to understand the unwritten rules.

      • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukOPEnglish
        1·
        2 days ago

        My advice: avoid London

        That is how the rest of the country feels too!

        Also, their accent is less abrasive than many in England.

        Steady on!

      • katy ✨@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        11·
        2 days ago

        but if you’re trans, queer, or a refugee (which most people fleeing trump would be), it’s not the friendliest place right now.

    • NickwithaC@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      2 days ago

      No language barrier and free healthcare are two huge incentives. I admit, we’re going to hear a lot about him, but at least he won’t be the prime minister.

      • futatorius@lemm.ee
        3·
        2 days ago

        Good point. That’ll make a huge difference to the vast numbers of Americans intending to emigrate Scotland or Northern Ireland.

        Scotland’s wonderful, by the way, lots going on with culture and the arts, and its politics are more social-democratic than England (for now), but it’s not easy finding well-paid work there, and the climate can be challenging. I know Americans who have gone there, mainly for education.

        Northern Ireland’s a bit socially backward, one of the religious groups has some unpleasant similarities to US fundamentalists, and though sectarianism is less a problem than it used to be, it’s still there. I have no idea how an American in-comer would be received there. Communities seem tight-knit and somewhat insular. On the other hand, like they have in the Republic, things could improve siginificantly.