Theresa May’s proposal to require foreign students to leave the UK immediately after graduating has been blocked by Conservative colleagues.
The Financial Times reports that George Osborne rejected the idea, which would see students forced to apply to return to the UK from their home country, amid concerns that it would harm British universities and businesses.
It had drawn criticism from politicians across the political spectrum and from business figures including inventor Sir James Dyson, who said it would simply “fuel competition from overseas”.
David Willetts, who until last summer was the universities minister, welcomed the news that the plan would be dropped.
“I don’t think it was a good idea,” he told the Today programme.
“It was never government policy and I’m pleased that, judging by these press reports today, it’s not going to be Conservative policy at the next election.”
The Conservative MP also called for a change in focus within the Government to try to attract more international students, describing it as a “great British export industry”.