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For Indian IT professionals who have been planning to go UK for a job or have been posted there through their Indian companies, things aren’t going to be easy now onwards as the UK government, in an attempt to lessen the number of immigrants, has announced some changes in its visa policy for non-EU nationals.<br />
<br /> According to the new rules announced by the <keyword id="160935" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="UK-Home-Office">UK Home Office</keyword>, minimum salary threshold of 30,000 pounds is to be met by anyone who is applying after November 24th under the Tier 2 intra-company transfer (<keyword id="70733" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICT">ICT</keyword>) category. Earlier, the minimum salary limit was 20,800 pounds.<br />
<br /> "The first of two phases of changes to Tier 2, announced by the government in March following a review by the <keyword id="3811210" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="independent-migration-advisory-committee">Independent Migration Advisory Committee</keyword>, will affect applications made on or after November 24 unless stated otherwise," a UK <keyword id="107407" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Home-Office">Home Office</keyword> statement said.<br />
<br /> According to UK’s <keyword id="144070" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Migration-Advisory-Committee">Migration Advisory Committee</keyword> (<keyword id="62949" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="MaC">MAC</keyword>), 90% of the visas issued under ICT were that of Indian IT workers.<br />
<br />
The other changes announced included the increase of the Tier 2 salary threshold for experience workers to 25,000 pounds, reduction of Tier 2 graduate trainee salary limit to 23,000 pounds, increment of 20 vacancies per company annually and closing of the Tier 2 skill transfer sub category. Many changes regarding the Tier 4 category were also announced and mainly included maintenance requirements for the Doctorate Extension Scheme.<br />
<br /> These new requirements will affect nationals outside the <keyword id="6355110" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="European-Union">European Union</keyword>, including Indians, the most, when applying for settlement for family members after two and a half years in the UK on a five-year route to residency settlement in the UK.<br />
<br />
The changes follow advice by the MAC earlier this year to curb the Tier 2 ICT route and reduce reliance on foreign workers.<br />
<br />
"(Immigration) is not serving to increase the incentive to employers to train and upskill the UK workforce. Ready access to a pool of skilled IT professionals in India is an example of this," the MAC report had said in its findings.<br />
<br />
"We did not see any substantive evidence of long-standing reciprocal arrangements whereby UK staffs are given the opportunity to gain skills, training and experience from working in India," it noted.<br />
<br />
MAC also added that the MNCs with presence in India have developed a delivery model, and has developed a competitive advantage in delivering IT projects in the UK.<br />
<br />
"They have developed a delivery model, whereby significant elements of projects are delivered offshore in India, taking advantage of the fact that Indian salaries are lower than in the UK for equivalent workers.<br />
<br />
The new rules follow further tightening of the Tier 2 category, which came into force in April this year.<br />
<br /> "The UK government s reforms to Tier 2 work visas are intended to ensure that businesses are able to attract the skilled people they need, but also see that they get far better at recruiting and training UK workers first," then UK Immigration minister <keyword id="3332922" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="James-Brokenshire">James Brokenshire</keyword> had said.<br />
(image: Indiatimes)<br />

It’s going to be a lot tougher to get UK Visas for Indians, especially techies now on

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12143328" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="keir-starmer" source="Orion">Keir Starmer</keyword> has vowed to resign if he is fined for breaching COVID rules over beergate.</li><li>The Labour leader said "unlike those in Downing Street", he would step down if police decide he broke the rules.</li></ul><p>Keir Starmer has vowed to resign if he is fined for breaching lockdown rules, as the Labour leader looks to regain his footing amid a brewing row over so-called "beergate." </p><p>The Labour leader has come under intense pressure after <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/politics/world/news/police-launch-investigation-into-keir-starmer-beergate-allegations-following-significant-new-evidence/articleshow/91379093.cms?_ga=2.12716855.1485917952.1652089768-187059826.1650358219">Durham Police launched an investigation</a> into whether he breached COVID rules, after he was pictured drinking a beer with aides during a campaign event in April 2021.</p><p>In a brief statement Monday afternoon, Starmer said he remained convinced he had not broken any rules, arguing that even his critics do not really believe it, and are just pressing the case to "feed cynicism".</p><p>But should he receive a fixed penalty notice, the opposition leader promised he would "of course do the right thing and step down".</p><p>Starmer sought to put a clear line between his own response to "beergate" and <keyword id="11911533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boris-johnson" source="Orion">Boris Johnson</keyword>'s refusal to resign over "<keyword id="13495783" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="partygate" source="Orion">partygate</keyword>," saying that "unlike those in Downing Street" he would step down.</p><p>"I am not the same," he explained. "This is about me, this is about what I believe in <keyword id="11893346" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="politics" source="Orion">politics</keyword>. I believe in integrity and integrity requires me to take the action I have set out here.</p><p>"The prime minister has chosen not to resign... that is his choice, but it is very important the public don't think all politicians are the same."</p><p>In a statement published after Starmer spoke deputy leader Angela Rayner – who also attended the event – echoed his pledge. </p><p>She said: "I've always been clear that I was at the event in Durham working in my capacity as deputy leader and that no rules were broken. Eating during a long day's work was not against the rules.</p><p>"We have a prime minister who has been found to have broken the rules, lied about it and then been fined. If I were issued with a fine, I would do the decent thing and step down."</p><p>Starmer had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beergate-starmer-accused-of-hypocrisy-over-lockdown-curry-2022-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">pulled out of a series of events</a> he was scheduled to attend on Monday, including an address ahead of the Queen's Speech later this week and a memorial service for the late minister James Brokenshire. </p><p>The Labour team had instead spent the day war-gaming the best next steps.  </p><p>Labour has said Starmer was working, and have insisted that no rules were broken, with shadow minister Lisa Nandy calling her boss "Mr Rules".</p><p>But <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beergate-how-labour-keir-starmer-mired-partygate-row-boris-johnson-2022-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">Conservatives have accused him of hypocrisy</a> after Starmer said Johnson and Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, should resign for their involvement in "partygate."</p>

Keir Starmer vows to resign as Labour leader if fined as he looks to fight back over 'beergate' criticism

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>PA</span></p><p class="caption">Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire.</p></div><p></p></div></div>LONDON - Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has announced a snap election on 2 March following the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister last week.</p><p>The people of Northern Ireland will vote to elect a new Stormont Assembly <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/sinn-fein-pushes-northern-ireland-closer-to-a-snap-election-2017-1" target="_blank">after power-sharing party Sinn Fein refused to nominate a new Deputy First Minister.</a></p><p>Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness was sharing power with First Minister Arlene Foster of the Democratic Unionist Party. But McGuinness quit last week in protest at the DUP's handling of a government green energy scheme. Flaws in the scheme, known as the Renewable Heat Incentive, could cost taxpayers £490 million, it is claimed.</p><p>Brokenshire stressed that the election will not derail the triggering of Article 50 by the end of March this year. "This does not affect the timing for the triggering of Article 50," he said at a press conference. "As the government, we will continue to seek our approach in respect of that - and also how we will continue to invite the [Northern Ireland] executive to relevant meetings during this time period."</p><p>On the election itself, he added: "No-one should underestimate the challenge faced to the political institutions here in Northern Ireland and what is at stake. While it is inevitable that debate during an election period will be intense, I would strongly encourage the political parties to conduct this election with a view to the future of Northern Ireland and re-establishing a partnership government at the earliest opportunity after that poll."</p><p>Northern Ireland's last election only took place in May last year.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/watch-barack-obama-address-michelle-in-his-farewell-speech-2017-1">Watch President Obama tear up while addressing Michelle in his farewell speech</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="J5bWF1ODE6s-eaPbm1IbTqDS7bzLedyu" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

Northern Ireland poised for snap election - but it won't derail Brexit

By Aditi Khanna <p>London, May 6 () A top UK government scientist, who was behind the country's strategy to impose strict lockdown measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, has resigned after a media report revealed that he broke the rules and allowed a woman he was said to be in a relationship with to visit his home during the lockdown.</p><p> Professor Neil Ferguson, an epidemiologist whose modelling convinced Prime Minister Boris Johnson to press ahead with a UK-wide lockdown, quit the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) after allegations emerged in The Daily Telegraph.</p><p> He admitted that he had allowed a woman Antonia Staats to visit him at his London home after travelling across the UK capital from her home, which she shares with her husband and children, on at least two occasions.</p><p> The movement goes against the very strict stay at home and save lives advice of the government, put in place by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson prompted by the scientific team led by Ferguson.</p><p> The incidents took place soon after the 51-year-old leading epidemiologist from Imperial College London had completed a two-week spell self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus.</p><p> "I accept I made an error of judgement and took the wrong course of action. I have therefore stepped back from my involvement in SAGE," said Ferguson after the report.</p><p> "I acted in the belief that I was immune, having tested positive for coronavirus and completely isolated myself for almost two weeks after developing symptoms. I deeply regret any undermining of the clear messages around the continued need for social distancing," he said.</p><p> The scientist, however, stressed that the government's advice on social distancing remains "unequivocal", adding that it was there "to protect all of us".</p><p> UK Security Minister James Brokenshire said the senior scientist "made the right decision" and that the government will "continue to be informed" by SAGE.</p><p> "We have a range of experts that will continue to support ministers," he said.</p><p> The first of the visits by Staats, 38, was on March 30, which coincided with a public warning by Prof Ferguson that the UK's one-week-old lockdown measures would have to remain until June.</p><p> Staats, a left-wing campaigner, made a second visit on April 8 despite telling friends she suspected that her husband, an academic in his 30s, had symptoms of coronavirus, the newspaper report claims.</p><p> "He has peculiarly breached his own guidelines, and for an intelligent man I find that very hard to believe. It risks undermining the government's lockdown message," said Conservative Party MP and former minister Ian Duncan Smith.</p><p> Ferguson's resignation comes a month after Scotland's Chief Medical Officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, had to resign when it was revealed she had broken lockdown rules by making two trips back and forth to a second home.</p><p> Under the government's guidelines in the UK, people are expected to stay at home and allowed to move out only for one form of daily exercise and essential shopping.</p><p> The measures have been in place since March 23 to try and flatten the curve of the rising number of cases of COVID-19, the UK death toll from which reached 29,427 on Tuesday – the highest number of virus deaths in Europe.</p> However, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which includes deaths where the virus is suspected and not just where tests have been carried out, brings the total number even higher to 32,375.  AK  PMSPMS

Top UK government scientist quits after breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Australian home affairs minister Peter Dutton announced Friday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.</li><li>Dutton last week attended an event in the US on countering child exploitation, and was pictured with Ivanka Trump and Attorney General William Barr. </li><li>On Thursday the White House said that President Donald Trump was not being tested for the coronavirus despite attending an event with a Brazilian official who has the virus.</li><li>Politicians in the UK, Iran and Australia have tested positive for the illness, and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is in self-isolation after his wife tested positive. </li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>Peter Dutton, the Australian home affairs minister who announced Friday he had tested positive for the coronavirus, was pictured standing next to Ivanka Trump on an official visit to the US last week. </p><p>In a statement Friday Dutton, who sits on the country's national security council, said that he had woken up with a "temperature and sore throat." He said that he had contacted his local health department and checked himself into hospital, where he tested positive for COVID-19, the disease it causes. </p><p>Dutton had recently travelled to the US on an official visit to discuss global efforts to tackle child exploitation. </p><p>In a March 5 photograph from the visit, tweeted by the Australian embassy, Dutton is pictured to the left of Ivanka Trump, President Donald Trump's daughter, who is an adviser in her father's administration. </p><p>"Yesterday  Home Affairs <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterDutton_MP">@PeterDutton_MP</a> joins <a href="https://twitter.com/IvankaTrump">@IvankaTrump</a>, Attorney General Barr &amp; our five eyes partners to fight online child exploitation. We heard from 9 brave survivors &amp; announced principles that technology companies should implement to protect children online," read the message.</p><p>Also in the picture, to Ivanka Trump's right, is Attorney General William Barr, and also pictured is UK security minister James Brokenshire.</p><p>The Five Eyes is a name for the intelligence-sharing alliance of the UK, US, Canada Australia, and New Zealand.</p><p>A March 5 <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-homeland-security-and-international-partners-announce-launch-voluntary">Justice Department news release</a> said that Chad Wolf, Acting Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security also attended the event. Business Insider has contacted the department for comment.</p><p>Dutton's positive test returned a full week after the Justice Department event, and Dutton said he only experienced symptoms the same day as the test.</p><p>Medical experts say the coronavirus is most contagious after symptoms occur, but it can also spread beforehand.</p><p>According to the release, New Zealand Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister for Children Tracey Martin, and Canada's Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair were also there.</p><p>The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether Ivanka Trump is being tested for the illness. The justice department also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Barr's exposure to infection. </p><p>In recent days celebrities, sports stars and senior politicians across the world have tested positive for the coronavirus. </p><p>On Thursday, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said he was self-isolating after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, had tested positive for the coronavirus. </p><p>The White House on Thursday said that President Trump was not being tested, despite a senior Brazilian official who attended a Florida event with Trump over the weekend testing positive for the illness. </p><p>At the Conservative Political Action Conference a fortnight ago Trump shook hands with Matt Schlapp, the chairman of the American Conservative Union, who had come into contact with an attendee who tested positive. </p>

An Australian minister was pictured next to Ivanka Trump days before testing positive for the coronavirus

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Paul Hanna</span></p><p class="caption">A man rides a horse through flames during the annual "Luminarias" celebration on the eve of Saint Anthony's day, Spain's patron saint of animals, in the village of San Bartolome de Pinares, northwest of Madrid.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Hello! Here's what you need to know on Tuesday.</p><p><strong>1. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-single-market-customs-union-hard-brexit-speech-2017-1">British Prime Minister Theresa May will reveal her roadmap for a Hard Brexit</a></strong>. She is expected to reject any settlement that amounts to "partial membership" of the EU, suggesting that the <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> will leave both the single market and the customs union.</p><p><strong>2. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/istanbul-nightclub-suspected-gunman-caught-2017-1">The gunman suspected of killing 39 in an attack on an Istanbul nightclub has been captured</a></strong>. The man, reportedly operating under the cover name Abu Muhammed Horasani, was caught by police in a hideout in Istanbul's Esenyurt district with his four-year-old son.</p><p><strong>3. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/merkel-hits-back-at-trump-europes-fate-is-in-our-own-hands-2017-1">German chancellor Angela Merkel has told US President-Elect Donald Trump that Europe's fate is now "in our own hands.</a>" </strong>Her comments come after Trump criticised her refugee policy as an "utterly catastrophic mistake."</p><p><strong>4. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/wife-of-orlando-nightclub-shooter-arrested-in-california-2017-1">The wife of the Orlando nightclub shooter has been arrested in California</a></strong>. She faces federal charges of obstruction of justice, and aiding and abetting the attempted provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.</p><p><strong>5. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com.au/5-dead-after-gunman-opens-fire-outside-a-nightclub-in-mexico-during-a-music-festival-2017-1">Five people have died after a gunman opened fire outside a nightclub in Mexico</a></strong>. Another 15 were injured. The gunman is believed to have entered the Blue Parrot nightclub in Playa del Carmen resort at 3 a.m.</p><p><strong>6. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ap-gene-cernan-last-astronaut-on-the-moon-dies-at-82-2017-1">The last astronaut ever to set foot on the moon has died</a></strong>. Gene Cernan, commander of NASA's Apollo 17 mission, died Monday surrounded by his family. He was aged 82.</p><p><strong>7. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/northern-ireland-snap-election-brexit-2017-1">Northern Ireland secretary James Brokenshire has announced a snap election on March 2</a></strong> following the resignation of Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister last week. Brokenshire says the election will not derail Brexit plans.</p><p><strong>8. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-police-shoot-at-drone-that-entered-a-no-fly-zone-in-tehran-2017-1">Iran's anti-aircraft forces opened fire a drone that entered a no-fly zone in Tehran</a></strong>. The area is a no-fly zone as government institutions and the office of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is located there.</p><p><strong>9. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-lithuania-to-build-fence-on-border-with-russian-exclave-2017-1">Lithuania is planning to build a fence on the border with Russia's highly militarised Kaliningrad province</a></strong>. The country will use EU funds to complete the project, which it hopes will boost security and prevent smuggling.</p><p><strong>10.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/obama-biggest-surprise-about-being-president-2017-1"> US president Barack Obama says the thing that surprised him most about his presidency was "the severity of partisanship</a>"</strong>. With one week left in office, Obama talked to CBS's "60 Minutes" about his eight years in Washington.<br /><strong><br />And finally…</strong></p><p><strong><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/welcome-business-insider-japan-2017-1">Konnichiwa, Business Insider Japan!</a></strong></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/money-save-invest-401k-millionaire-2016-12">How much money you need to save each day to become a millionaire by age 65</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="l3Y3JoODE6AznwShkXttejURmRE6JOzK" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

The 10 most important things in the world right now

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is seen outside of Downing Street in London, Britain, February 27, 2019.</span></p><p class="caption">Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is seen outside of Downing Street in London, Britain, February 27, 2019.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Theresa May accused of "bribing" Labour MPs after announcing £1.6 billion fund targeting Leave-voting constituencies in a bid to secure support for her Brexit deal.</strong></li><li><strong>"After decades of neglect, a one-off payment designed to help the Prime Minister ahead of a key Brexit vote will fail," said Labour MP Lisa Nandy.</strong></li><li><strong>The prime minister is expected to put her Brexit deal before parliament by March 12, with little sign that a majority of MPs have decided to support it.</strong></li></ul><p>LONDON - Theresa May's government has been accused of "bribing" Labour MPs after announcing plans to give £1.6 billion cash to left-behind English constituencies in an attempt to win support for her Brexit deal.</p><p>Labour MPs in Leave-voting constituencies who the prime minister was targeting, including Gareth Snell and Lisa Nandy, criticised May's efforts and said the cash, would not persuade them to support the prime minister's deal.</p><p><span>"After decades of neglect, a one-off payment designed to help the Prime Minister ahead of a key Brexit vote will fail, and it will confirm to people in our towns that the government is not serious in its commitment to our communities," said Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan and a former shadow minister.</span><span></span></p><p><span>The communities secretary James Brokenshire denied on Monday that the money was a Brexit bribe and said the cash would be "transformative" and allocated regardless of the outcome of the Brexit vote.</span></p><p><span>But he also revealed on BBC's Today programme that the cash would be allocated to English regions over six years rather four, as Downing Street had initially indicated, meaning the average annual sum allocated to regions would be smaller.</span></p><p>The prime minister is expected to put her Brexit deal before parliament for a second time by March 12 and will need the support of some Labour MPs to deliver it in the face of stern opposition from many Conservative backbenchers.</p><p>Her deal was defeated by a 230-vote margin in April and there is little sign that Downing Street has persuaded significant numbers of MPs to reverse their position to back the deal.</p><h2><span>'No Brexit bribery'</span></h2><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">John McDonnell, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, appears on BBC TV's The Andrew Marr Show in London</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><span>Announcing the "Stronger Towns Fund" in a statement on Sunday, Theresa May directly linked Leave votes to the towns where the cash would be allocated.</span></p><p>"Communities across the country voted for Brexit as an expression of their desire to see change - that must be a change for the better, with more opportunity and greater control," she said.</p><div>"These towns have a glorious heritage, huge potential and, with the right help, a bright future ahead of them."</div><div><p><span>Shadow chancellor John McDonnell dismissed May's announcement and said the fund "</span><span>smacks of desperation from a government reduced to bribing MPs to vote for their damaging flagship Brexit legislation."</span></p><p><span>He said towns were struggling "because of a decade of cuts, including to council funding and a failure to invest in businesses and our communities."</span></p><p><span>"No Brexit bribery, stable investment where it's most needed," he added.</span></p></div><p style="font-weight: 400;">Downing Street said in a statement that £281 million would be allocated in northwest England; £105 million in northeast England; £197 million in Yorkshire and Humber; £212 in the West Midlands; £110 in the East Midlands; £33 million in the southwest; £37 million in the southeast, and £25 million in east England.</p><p class="tagline">Our Brexit Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and analysis about Britain's departure from the EU, direct from Business Insider's political reporters. Join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/267178180471848/">here.</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-praised-questioning-michael-cohen-hearing-trump-2019-2">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being praised for her line of questioning at Michael Cohen's hearing - watch it here</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Theresa May accused of 'bribing' Labour MPs to back her Brexit deal

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Theresa May has written to Jeremy Corbyn dismissing his calls for a customs union but welcoming further talks.</strong></li><li><strong>The letter comes as the prime minister accused of running down the clock in order to force MPs to back her Brexit deal.</strong></li><li><strong>Brexit secretary Steve Barclay is heading to Strasbourg for talks over the Brexit deal today.</strong></li><li><strong>The EU is not planning to offer May the concessions she has asked for.</strong></li></ul><p>LONDON - Theresa May has been accused of running down the clock in an attempt to force MPs to back her Brexit deal, after she called again for more talks with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.</p><p>Writing to the Labour party leader on Sunday evening, May dismissed his calls to remain in a customs union but backed further talks as the prime minister seeks to buy more time to renegotiate her Brexit deal in Brussels.</p><p>In an unusually conciliatory letter, May told Corbyn that both parties should discuss how "alternative arrangements" to the Irish backstop - a mechanism designed to avoid a hard border - might work.</p><p>She also said she was "grateful" to Corbyn for meeting her last week, but ruled out remaining in the customs union - one of the Labour leader's demands for supporting her deal.</p><p>Responding to his <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/jeremy-corbyn-backs-a-soft-brexit-and-dashes-hopes-of-a-referendum-2019-2">letter of last week,</a> May wrote: "It is good to see that we agree that the UK should leave the European Union with a deal and that the urgent task at hand is to find a deal that honours our commitments to the people of Northern Ireland, can command support in Parliament and can be negotiated with the EU - not to seek an election or second referendum."</p><p>But in a bid to win over potential Labour rebels, the prime minister made a concession on environmental and workers' rights, dismissing Corbyn's call for full alignment with the EU but proposing a Commons vote every time they changed.</p><p>However, the prime minister's letter comes amid growing concern both inside and outside her Cabinet that the prime minister is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47187491">trying to run down the clock</a> until March, when the UK is scheduled to leave the EU, so parliament is forced to support her current deal or leave with no deal at all.</p><p>Some believe the best chances of forcing a vote sooner than March lie with Labour. Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said on Sunday that they could table an amendment which would force a vote to be held by February 26.</p><p>Starner said on Sunday that he believes the prime minister is "pretending to make progress" in negotiations with the EU, while "cynically" running down the clock.</p><p>"We can't allow that to happen," Starner<span> </span><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/exclusive-interview-jeremy-corbyns-shadow-brexit-minister-keir-starmer-mx989x9d0">told The Sunday Times</a>.</p><p>"There needs to be a day when Parliament says that's it, enough is enough."</p><p>Meanwhile, Brexit secretary Steve Barclay and EU negotiator Michel Barnier will hold talks in Strasbourg later, with negotiators ready to discuss potential changes to the deal negotiated last year. </p><h2>Buying time</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"></div></div></div></p><p>The prime minister's Brexit deal was rejected by a huge margin in the Commons last month, and she remains officially committed to renegotiating it as soon as possible.</p><p>But there is a growing recognition that she will not be able to make any changes until the end of February at the earliest.</p><p>She re-opened talks with the EU last week in a bid to secure concessions that rebel Tory MPs could support, but she is highly unlikely to secure the changes to the backstop she is seeking.</p><p>Negotiators from the EU, backed by member states, are refusing to water down the Irish backstop, which a majority of MPs wish to see scrapped altogether.</p><p>If, as expected, the prime minister doesn't secure any concessions from the EU by Wednesday, parliament will vote on alternative options on Thursday. She will also promise that if she hasn't brought a renegotiated deal to Parliament by the end of February, MPs will again be able to vote on what should happen next.</p><p>Communities secretary James Brokenshire confirmed on Sunday that if no revised deal were put to the Commons by February 27, MPs would again be given an amendable motion, meaning they could vote on preferred ways forward.</p><p>"If the meaningful vote has not happened, so in other words things have not concluded, then parliament would have that further opportunity by no later than 27 February," he said.</p><p class="tagline">Our Brexit Insider Facebook group is the best place for up-to-date news and analysis about Britain's departure from the EU, direct from Business Insider's political reporters. Join <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/267178180471848/">here.</a></p>

Theresa May accused of running down the clock as she offers more Brexit talks with Corbyn

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> government has announced immigration reforms that will make it harder and more expensive for technology companies to hire staff outside Europe.</p><p>Home Secretary Theresa May <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/call-for-evidence-review-tier-2-route" target="_blank">tasked the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC)</a> last year with investigating how the UK government could reduce the number of skilled migrant workers entering the UK on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/tier-2-general/overview" target="_blank">Tier 2 visa</a>, which is the main immigration route for non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals to apply to work in the UK.</p><p>The Home Office <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/migration-advisory-committee-reviews-of-tier-2" target="_blank">published its response</a> on Thursday to a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/migration-advisory-committee-mac-review-tier-2-migration" target="_blank">report submitted by the MAC on January 19</a>.</p><p>The policy change that is likely to impact tech companies the most is the increase to minimum salary thresholds. Previously, UK technology companies could hire people from outside the EU on the Tier 2 visa providing they paid them more than £20,800. That figure is set to rise to £25,000 in autumn 2016 and £30,000 in April 2017, possibly causing issues for many cash-strapped startups.</p><p>The government is also going to introduce an Immigration Skills Charge on businesses that hire people on a Tier 2 visa. The charge, <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/the-government-is-set-to-charge-uk-tech-companies-1000-a-year-to-hire-silicon-valley-engineers-2016-1" target="_blank">floated as a possible reform in January</a>, means businesses will be charged £1,000 per person that they employ.</p><p>"For too long we have had a shortage of workers in certain roles, and in the past, it has been too easy for employers to recruit overseas," wrote MP James Brokenshire in his <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-03-24/HCWS660/" target="_blank">response to the MAC report</a>.</p><p>The MAC was asked to look at "restricting skilled work visas to genuine skills shortages and highly specialist experts, raising Tier 2 salary thresholds to stop businesses using foreign workers to undercut wages, and a new immigration skills charge to invest in funding for training resident workers."</p><p>Charlotte Holloway, head of policy at industry body techUK, said: "Today's statement from the immigration minister will be disappointing to tech companies, including growing UK SMEs through to international companies investing in the UK.</p><p>"Whilst there is widespread acknowledgement that the technology industry faces some of the most significant skills shortages in the economy - extra restrictions such as the new skills charge, increased salary thresholds and limitations on intra-company transfers will not make it easier for companies to access the talent they need to grow."</p><p>Some health and education professionals will be exempt from the higher general salary threshold increases until July 2019, the government said in its response.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-messaging-tricks-apple-smartphone-tech-mute-location-forward-2016-3">How to send self-destructing messages - and other iPhone messaging tricks</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="Uzb254MTE6qWwKvpjtvaX0v3cMi-Vdxd" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

The Home Office is going to make it harder for UK tech companies to hire overseas talent

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><span></span></p><p><span>London has a significant housing crisis and </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Sadiq Khan, t</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">he frontrunner in the mayoral election race, just made some pretty radical pledges over how he would help people living in the capital.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>The MP for Tooting, speaking at a <span>debate attended by Business Insider in Kensington Temple, west London on Tuesday evening, reaffirmed two key promises:</span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span><span>1. T</span></span></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">o make 50% of new housing affordable by introducing a "London living rent." </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">That would mean tenants would spend no more than a third of their salary on rent. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">2. He promised to give "first dibs" to Londoners and stop new housing developments being sold-0ff to foreign investors.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">In other words, he would install some stringent controls over how properties are rented or sold. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">This could be a popular pledge amongst voters considering l</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">ittle supply but high demand has pushed the average price of houses in London to £524,000, according to the Office for National Statistics data. </span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>To put this into perspective, the </span><span>average Briton earns around </span><span></span><span>£30,000 a year in London. </span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span>Renting is not much better either.</span></span></p><p>According to a YouGov poll commissioned by estate agents Knight Frank in December last year, a third of Londoners are now prepared to <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/knight-frank-yougov-poll-build-to-rent-salary-and-rent-ratio-london-flat-prices-2015-12">spend 50% of their salary on rent.</a> A month later, according to HomeLet data sent to Business Insider, <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/homelet-data-uk-london-and-other-city-rent-2016-1">rent in London averaged £1,596 in 2015</a>.</p><h2>Pledges to tackle terrorism</h2><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>The <span>debate on Tuesday evening - chaired by BBC journalist Christopher Landau  - gave the capital's Christian community the chance to put questions to the panel of Khan, Conservative Zac Goldsmith, Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon, Green Party candidate Sian Berry, and David Kurten who was representing UKIP's Peter Whittle, on a number issues facing Londoners.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span><span><span>The debate was not as feisty as last week's head-to-head clash between Khan and Goldsmith, who during the event hosted by City AM </span><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/london-mayoral-debate-audience-stunned-racism-row-2016-4" target="_blank">argued over allegations of Islamophobia</a><span> levelled at the latter by Labour MP Yvette Cooper. The hustings on Tuesday evening did pause briefly for a moment midway through, however, when a member of the audience yelled "you're a racist, Zac!" to the Conservative candidate.</span></span></span></span></p><p>Labour candidate Khan highlighted how the capital faces a very serious threat from religious extremists, and pledged to introduce a number of hard measures to protect Londoners. </p><p><span></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"I have a plan for tackling terrorism. I want a major review of emergency services' ability to respond to terrorist incidents. I want to bring back neighbourhood police officers," he said.</span></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">"We also need to put uniformed officers back on the streets of London, and we need to seriously step up the number of armed officers we have."</span></p><p>Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith made similar pledges, saying he would put 500 more police officers on the city's tube network if elected mayor.</p><p>Last month, Britain's Home Officer minister James Brokenshire <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/mayor/sadiq-khan-accused-of-uturn-over-police-shoottokill-policy-a3213126.html" target="_blank">accused Khan of changing his position</a> on armed police's right to shoot to kill in order to appear "tougher" on security issues in the run-up to the May election.</p><p>Khan in March said he gave his "full backing" to London's armed officers to do what's necessary to keep the city safe, but in 2005 expressed reservations about the shoot to kill policy, after the shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes who was mistaken for a terrorist.</p><p>Afterwards, Goldsmith from the Conservative party said he wanted to see a "leap to localism," and if elected mayor, he would lobby the government to devolve more powers to local authorities so they can deal more directly with problems like homelessness. He also re-affirmed his pledge to invest in Transport for London in order to unlock public-owned brownfield land and build more homes.</p><p>All candidates agreed that maximum betting allowances should be imposed on fixed-odds betting in betting shops across the city in order to stop lower-earners being exploited by commercial betting companies.</p><p>The <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/comres-poll-khan-is-winning-key-battles-2016-4" target="_blank">latest ComRes opinion poll published this week</a> said Khan is on course to become the next mayor of London with a six to ten point lead over closest rival Goldsmith. The Tory candidate has struggled to make any notable ground with the election fast approaching, <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/comres-poll-gives-khan-10-point-lead-2016-4" target="_blank">according to multiple polls published</a> this month.</p><p>The London mayoral election will take place on Thursday, May 5.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/link-between-deaths-three-us-presidents-harrison-polk-taylor-2016-4">Scientists have linked the deaths of three US presidents to the same surprising cause</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="dtMzF1MjE67aQtINQ6tn0bTECuiVPsy6" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

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