Visa Brake Chevening Scholars 2026-03-23

2026-03-23

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Siân Berry Green
Brighton Pavilion
Context
Discussions about the visa brake's potential impact on Chevening scholars, a programme supporting exceptional future leaders globally.
What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the introduction of the visa brake on Chevening scholars. Chevening scholarships continue to attract and support exceptional future leaders across the globe, but introducing the visa brake raises concerns about its impact.
We have discussed the introduction of visa brakes across Government, including the impact on Chevening scholars. Chevening scholarships continue to attract and support exceptional future leaders across the globe, and will continue to do so. Restoring order and control to our system is a top priority. Through the visa brake we are acting quickly and decisively to address high numbers and proportions of visa-linked asylum claims.
Assessment & feedback
Specific impact on Chevening scholars not addressed
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Siân Berry Green
Brighton Pavilion
Context
Concerns raised about the impact of including prestigious Chevening scholarships in the Government's clampdown on certain study visas, particularly affecting students from Afghanistan.
Including prestigious Chevening scholarships in the Government's clampdown on certain study visas is devastating for those who have been shortlisted, including students who are set to join our world-leading programmes at Sussex University. It raises questions about the value that the Government put on nurturing talent, particularly for women from Afghanistan, from whom I have seen heartbreaking accounts of terminated applications. Will the Minister and the Home Secretary urgently revisit that decision?
I have laid out the concerns, and the reasons for this brake. For example, 93% of those coming over from Afghanistan as students are claiming asylum. The Green party may well want open borders; that is not what we stand for. We stand for control and order, but, at the same time, compassion. That is exactly why we are looking at safe and legal routes, while working to control the borders.
Assessment & feedback
Decision to revisit including Chevening scholarships in visa clampdown not addressed
Changing Subject To Open Borders Stance Raising Concerns About High Asylum Claims
Response accuracy