Priti Patel is planning to hike visa fees for NHS and other workers from European countries, in what Labour has described as “a stealth tax on frontline heroes”.
The home secretary has been accused of partially going back on her promise to scrap the immigration surcharge paid by overseas health and care workers, conceded after huge protests.
The row has blown up because Ms Patel is exploring removing a £55 discount on application fees for citizens from 26 countries, most of which are EU members.
During the UK’s membership of the EU – because of free movement of worker rules within the bloc – the charter was irrelevant for the vast majority of the countries involved.
The Home Office has been asked to comment on the proposal, first reported by The Times. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, attacked the plan, saying: “What does the home secretary have against NHS and care workers?
“Conservative plans to slap a stealth tax on frontline heroes, who have risked their own health to keep us safe through this pandemic, is shameful.
Elsewhere, Gavin Williamson has been criticised for his department's 'pitiful' Covid recovery plan for schools. The proposals have been widely condemned by teaching unions, who say the £1.4bn put forward falls far short of what is required to help pupils get back on track following months of lockdown.
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