George Osborne urges Tory MPs to defy Theresa May over foreign students

Former Chancellor sarcastically 'congratulates' Prime Minister for 'damaging our economy, weakening our universities, reducing our exports and diminishing our global impact'

The Evening Standard has been vocal in its criticism of Theresa May since George Osborne took over as Editor (PA)

George Osborne has called on Conservatives MPs to defy Theresa May and vote to remove overseas students from the Government’s migration targets.

It comes after new official figures revealed that previous data had massively overestimated the number of students who remain in the UK illegally after finishing their courses. The real figure is just 4,600 – a fraction of the 100,000 estimate that has been the basis of government policy for years.

In an editorial for the London Evening Standard, which Mr Osborne edits, the former Chancellor claimed Ms May was the only minister in David Cameron’s Cabinet arguing that students should be included in the figures. Her argument is said to have been based heavily on the 100,000 estimate that has now been discredited.

He wrote: “Alone among senior Cabinet ministers at the time, Home Secretary Theresa May insisted that overseas students had to be included in Britain’s net migration numbers.

"Her reason was simple: around 100,000 of those students, she claimed, remained in the UK illegally once their visas expired. Based on a survey conducted at airports, the figure was always considered highly suspect across Whitehall.

“But repeated attempts by the Treasury, Foreign Office and Business department to get the Home Office to investigate the accuracy of the numbers were rebuffed — the then Home Secretary thought it was better to stick with false information than get the real facts, which might force her to change the policy."

In contrast, Mr Osborne said the current Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, is “sensible and rational” and praised her for commissioning research into the economic benefits that foreign students bring to Britain.

Highlighting both the economic and social benefits of immigration, including “creativity and innovation” and maintaining “a big role in shaping the world we live in”, Mr Osborne said more should be done to attract people to study in the UK.

He said: “Foreign students enhance our economy and bring revenue to our universities, which funds research and allows them to top the international league tables.

“Educating foreign students is a key export industry, worth more than £10 billion a year. Those who come to study here retain a connection with our country, and an affection for it that remains for the rest of their lives — and they take our values home with them. That is what soft power is about."

Responding to new figures showing a 27,000 fall in the number of overseas students in the UK, Mr Osborne said: “So we have damaged our economy, weakened our universities, reduced our exports and diminished our global impact. Congratulations, Mrs May.”

And he called on Conservative MPs and the Cabinet to defy the Prime Minister and table legislation to remove students from migration figures.

He said: “Let’s hope someone puts down an amendment in Parliament to remove students from migration numbers. With the facts now known, most of the Cabinet privately supporting it, and no government majority, it will surely be carried — and we can have a shot at being ‘global Britain’.”

Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, had earlier refused to back Ms May on the issue of overseas students.

Asked by the BBC whether students should continue to be included in the figures, he replied: “I am content with the success we are having in attracting international students, and also ensuring that those international students do not overstay their period here.”