Sadiq Khan goes to war with Keir Starmer over foreign student clampdown with London mayor telling PM UK should keep universities 'open'

The Daily Mail ^ | 16 Jul 2025 | DAVID WILCOCK

[MinorityRepublican]

Sadiq Khan today hit out at Keir Starmer's plan to cut the number of foreign students coming to Britain in his latest clash with the Labour leadership.

The London mayor used a visit to Ghana to say UK universities should remain 'open' to overseas students, after a new immigration clampdown was announced in May.

It will see the amount of time post-graduate students can spend in the UK after completing their course cut from two years to 18 months.

A new levy on income that universities generate from international students could also be introduced.

It follows changes introduced by the former Conservative government in January 2024 that banned almost all international students from bringing dependents like spouses and children with them.

In a written article for the radio station LBC's website, Sir Sadiq said the levy risked 'putting off young people from coming to cities like London and piling yet another burden on our strained higher education sector'.

'Closing our country to global talent would be a pointless act of immense economic self-harm, slowing down growth and leaving working people in every part of the UK worse off,' he said.

'Instead, we must make the argument for openness, confident in the immense contribution that international students make to our prosperity.'

It is Sir Sadiq's latest attempt to distance himself from the Labour government, having also supported recent demands from backbench MPs to water down benefit cuts.

He also criticised the PM for using the phrase 'island of strangers' in an immigration speech earlier this year.

The difference between the number of people moving to the UK and leaving the country is estimated to have halved, in the biggest fall in net migration since the pandemic.

The figure stood at an estimated 431,000 in the year ending December 2024,

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; United Kingdom; War on Terror
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[JZelle]

Gee, I wonder who caves first?

[nwrep]

Good for Starmer. Just like only Nixon could go to China, only Starmer could cut immigration. One can only take controversial actions if inoculated against the most obvious lines of attack. Trump breaks this mold.

[Bigg Red]

Boot them out and send all of the mohammedan mayors like Kahn with them.

[PGR88]

the UK is NOT a friend to the United States.

[wjcsux]

Put a fork in the UK, they’re done.

[SpaceBar]

England is a clown show.

[mewzilla]

A UK related update. Their Deep State continues to panic...

16-year-olds will have the right to vote at next election as Labour lowers voting age Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner announces new lower voting age will be in place before the next general election.

[9YearLurker]

So the UK socialist cuts immigration while Trump pushes amnesty.

[13Sisters76]

Khan and Khan’s London are neon signs for NYC if they elect that dirtbag Mamadama.