The UK is launching a new visa system to make it easier for science, research and technology workers overseas to move to the country, the Chancellor of the Exchequer says.

Rishi Sunak told MPs on Wednesday he hoped to make the UK the “best place in the world for high-growth, innovative companies” and to make the country “internationally competitive”.

“I’m announcing ambitious visa reform aimed at highly skilled migrants,” he said.

“This includes a new unsponsored points-based visa to attract the best and most promising international talent in science, research and tech, new, improved visa processes for scale-ups and entrepreneurs and radically simplified bureaucracy for high-skilled visa applications.” (The West Australian)