A Liberal Democrat member of Parliament in UK has moved an early day motion in Parliament to get support for reversal of new rules for students visas imposed by the Labour government.
Early day motions are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons, but very few of them are actually debated. They are more used to draw attention to specific events or campaigns, and to demonstrate the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view.
Incidentally, Gerald Kaufman, who is Labour MP from Manchester Gorton, has moved an early day motion against Indian high commissioner Nalin Surie.
Mr Kaufman, who hasn’t got any support for his motion, has claimed that the high commissioner “rudely ignored” his letters to the high commission about one his constituent’s visa.
In his May 27 motion, Mr Kaufman said: “(Mr) Surie is not fit to hold such an important and influential post; and calls for his removal to India by the Indian government and his replacement by a diplomat who will commit himself or herself to fostering good relations between the two countries.”
Eastbourne MP Stephen Lloyd moved the motion last week to help protect English language schools in Britain. The motion said that the change in the criteria for foreign students wishing to study the English language in this country was detrimental, rushed and flawed. Mr Lloyd’s early day motion has just attracted 11 signatures in a week and one of those is Mr Lloyd’s signature.
“It will discourage an estimated 100,000 legitimate international students from coming to the UK to study,” Mr Lloyd’s motion said.