Immigration cap to be put on skilled workers from outside EU

By Nicholas Watt

A cap on immigration to Britain from outside the European Union will be imposed from next month despite cabinet concerns that the policy could harm the economy by shutting out skilled workers.

Theresa May, the home secretary, is expected to announce that a maximum of 24,100 workers will be allowed into Britain from outside the EU before April. May will make the announcement as she launches a consultation process to decide the level of a permanent cap to be enforced from next April.

The home secretary is pressing ahead in the face of concerns among members of the cabinet that an arbitrary cap could deprive the economy of skilled labour. Michael Gove, the schools secretary, and David Willetts, the universities minister, are understood to have raised concerns at a cabinet committee meeting chaired by Nick Clegg. The Lib Dems strongly opposed the cap during the election but allowed it to form part of the coalition agreement.

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