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Despite international students contributing over £40 billion to the UK economy, the British government continues to play to the populist agenda, problematising migration for political gain. Though it is well known that sectors such as health, social care and education are having to actively recruit from overseas to overcome critical deficits in the indigenous labour market, daily we must listen to this government acting tough.

Its latest move? To propose restricting the right of international students’ families to stay with them for the duration of their studies. This may play well for voters in the short term, but longer term will likely just drive international students to Australia, Canada, Europe and USA instead. Visitors are growing weary of Britain’s hostile environment policy. It’s as if no one has yet considered the possibility that these insular policies will eventually leave us isolated, and worse off.