Liberal Democrats have questioned Theresa May's motives, following reports that she wants to perform a U-turn and take foreign students out of the immigration figures.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs spokesperson Brian Paddick said: "Theresa May is clearly trying to massage the immigration figures after she set herself damaging and undeliverable targets."
Sue Garden, who supported an amendment in the House of Lords to the Higher Education Research Bill to take students out of the immigration figures, welcomed the potential climb-down.
Sue Garden said: "The Liberal Democrats have been calling for students to be taken out of immigration figures for a long time. International students make an enormous contribution to our economy and are vital to ensuring that our universities remain among the best in the world. For us, this is not about manipulating immigration figures, it is about recognising the very special status international students have."
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