We were delighted to host a discussion about immigration with Professor Brian Bell, Chair of the UK’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
The MAC provides independent advice to the government on immigration policy, particularly on the Shortage Occupation List.
In conversation with Chris Deerin, Director of Enlighten, Professor Bell discussed the UK’s focus on net migration; the impact of migration on the economy, labour markets, and employer behaviour; and its effect on higher education, social care and industrial strategy.
Professor Bell is a leading labour economist who is widely published, and his work on immigration has included papers examining the progress of immigrants in the labour market in the UK, and the impact of immigration on crime in the UK. He is a professor of economics at King’s Business School, a faculty of King’s College London (KCL). He has also worked extensively outside academia, including at the Bank of England, the International Monetary Fund, and in a number of financial companies in the UK.
The event was held over Zoom on 2 September 2025. Catch up on the discussion here: