Director of @MigObs. Research on immigration - visa policy, economic impacts, migrants in the labor market, etc. Media enquiries pls contact Rob McNeil
Published today! My take on why it’s so difficult for governments to make immigration policies that people trust
What Is Immigration Policy For?
amzn.eu/d/03bM5fDM
The event of the year is back on Thursday 10th December!
The Migration Statistics User Forum is your opportunity to find out what ONS, Home Office and other government data teams are planning on migration, and to tell them what stats you need.
eventbrite.co.uk/e/migration…
My op-ed in the FT today about why it can be misleading when the migration debate focuses too much on work visas
A big theme in my recent book, "What is Immigration Policy For?" which looks at why immigration policy is so difficult for governments to manage
How does immigration affect public finances? Is the OBR getting it right? Which migration policies are fiscally costly vs beneficial?
Much enjoyed discussing all this - and my new book, "What is immigration policy for?" with @TheIFS on their excellent IFS Zooms In podcast
How does immigration affect public finances? Is the OBR getting it right? Which migration policies are fiscally costly vs beneficial?
Much enjoyed discussing all this - and my new book, "What is immigration policy for?" with @TheIFS on their excellent IFS Zooms In podcast
NEW PODCAST: How does immigration affect the public finances?
🎙️@HelenMiller_IFS, @M_Sumption, and @MaxWarnerIFS sit down to discuss the impact of migration on the economy and the public finances ⬇️
It’s #SocialInclusionWeek, a time to think about belonging and participation.
📚 'What Is Immigration Policy For?' by @M_Sumption explores how immigration policy shapes people’s lives and communities.
A timely read on inclusion and change.
bristoluniversitypress.co.uk…
Brilliantly comprehensive analysis of migration & crime from @BenBrindle_
I learnt all sorts of things, eg 60% of Albanians' criminal convictions were drug offences, non-citizens rarely get bail, and there's almost zero data on how many ppl liable for deportation aren't removed
Non-UK citizens made up 13.1% of people given cautions or convictions in 2024 and 12.1% of the prison population in June 2025. This was similar to their share of the 16+ population
Interesting piece from BBC on vape shops & others still registered to sponsor migrant workers
I was on Radio 4 at 6.45am to explain why. It's an unintended consequence of post-Brexit expansion that made mid-skilled jobs (eg electricians etc) eligible
🧵
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj63…
There's probably not many workers still being sponsored in these roles
Previous govt priced many out by raising salary threshold
Current govt made many ineligible entirely, e.g. shopkeepers, retail managers
In July, MAC recommended removing the remaining ones that appear to be responsible for recruitment in small retail outfits, such as 'business development managers'
gov.uk/government/publicatio…
A piece on my book "What is Immigration Policy For?" in Civil Service World - featuring the curious case of the UK's attempts to admit migrant investors
Link the reply
A piece on my book "What is Immigration Policy For?" in Civil Service World - featuring the curious case of the UK's attempts to admit migrant investors
Link the reply
Enjoyed this chat w @DAaronovitch on why small boats are down recently
TLDR: probably some combination of policy & fewer asylum seekers entering EU. Hard to say how much results from each
Next 6-8 weeks will tell us more re how durable the trend is, as arrivals highest in summer
“Having read your book, What is Immigration Policy For, I have to admit that everything I thought I knew about migration has kind of turned on its head”
Much enjoyed an in-depth chat about my book w @paddyney and Guy Pinsent in their new series Custom & Reason (links in reply)