Nearly 4,000 individuals from these 4 Commonwealth countries — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom – have taken part in a survey and the results show that most of them strongly agree to have a Union-style system (that is similar to Europe) which would enable free movement among these 4 nations.
70 percent of those from Australia have given their support to the proposal of the ‘migration bloc.’ Only 10 percent of Australians were not in favour of the concept. At 75 percent, support was even stronger amongst the Canadians. 82 percent of the New Zealanders were in favour of idea.
The Director of policy and research at the Royal Commonwealth Society, and the author of this report, Mr Tim Hewish, stated in an interview with The Guardian that there is very strong support among New Zealanders, Canadians, and Australian to be able to live and work in the United Kingdom with freedom.
”Collectively we possess a unique bond, which needs protecting,” Mr Hewish of the Royal Commonwealth Society said. ”We share a language, a legal system, and a Queen.”
United Kingdom nationals however did not share the opinion, with only 58 percent in favour of the idea.
Right now, the policies in the United Kingdom are moving the other way and may have an intention to introduce work restriction rights among its international workers. According to a report released by The Guardian, all the skilled workers that came from outside of the European Union and who have been in the United Kingdom for fewer than 10 years are going to have to earn around £35,000 a year just so they can be considered for a Tier 2 visa, and be eligible to settle in the country permanently.
Citizens of New Zealand and Australia who will be staying in the United Kingdom for at least 6 months or more are also going to need to pay a yearly surcharge of £200 (NZ$426 and A$380, respectively) so they can gain access to some of the UK’s health services.
Source: MigrationAlliance.com.au
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