Tories pledge to increase health surcharge

The Prime Minister’s Brexit deal, which will see freedom of movement end in January 2021, also includes plans to increase the international health surcharge of £625.

Under the banner of ‘taking back control of our borders’, Boris Johnson maintains that tighter claimant rules and greater contributions will mean £1.3 billion more each year for our public services by the end of the Parliament.

The international health surcharge increase to all foreign workers, including EU migrants after Brexit, will seek to ensure they are making a sufficient contribution towards our health service. Under the current system, people on a work, study or family visa incur average NHS costs of £625 per year but only pay a £400 surcharge. The Conservative measure will raise over £500 million a year, which the party would put towards NHS services.

Johnson said: “As we come out of the EU we have a new opportunity for fairness and to make sure all those who come here are treated the same. We will make our immigration system equal - whilst at the same time ensuring our fantastic public services, like the NHS, are all properly funded. A majority Conservative Government will ensure that people who come to our great country from anywhere in the world have both a job to come to, and make a contribution to our NHS - so that we can protect and improve the public services we all benefit from.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “One of the benefits of Brexit is that we get to take back control and make our system fairer. A majority Conservative Government will ensure that people who come to our great country from anywhere in the world will contribute on day one. Immigration will finally be subject to democratic control, allowing us to get overall numbers down.

“A Labour government would see immigration surge, placing huge strain on public services like our NHS and prisons. Corbyn would also subject the UK to the chaos of two more referendums, with no time to focus on the people's priorities. Only a Conservative majority can get parliament working again and get Brexit done so that we can end freedom of movement once and for all.”