SUELLA BRAVERMAN was slammed today as “vindictive” after announcing “racist, divisive and sexist discriminatory” new limits on overseas students bringing family into Britain.

The Home Secretary’s new rules, released in Parliament on Tuesday, mean that only overseas students on courses designated as research programmes will be able to bring dependants with them.

The rules will come into effect from January 2024 and are a part of the government’s larger attack on migration.

University and College Union (UCU) general secretary Jo Grady said that the curbs may be “damaging” to the pipeline of “international talent” into the country.

Ms Grady called it “a vindictive move” by the Home Office, saying: “Those who choose to study in Britain, no matter where they are from in the world, bring huge value to our society and deserve the right to live alongside their loved ones while they study.

“Instead, they are being treated with contempt.

“This is another deeply shameful moment for a government hell-bent on attacking migrants and undermining our universities.”

The Indian Workers’ Association GB condemned the “racist, divisive and sexist discriminatory ban,” warning that it further penalises international students already paying triple university fees, “ripped off” in housing and paying for healthcare after “paying a king’s ransom” for their visas.

“This hostile act by the home secretary in conjunction with the Department for Education and the Treasury demonstrates the desperate attempt by the sinking Tory government to shore up its declining vote bank based on its old divisive reactionary policies,” it said in a statement.

Universities UK International director Jamie Arrowsmith warned that the changes are likely to have a “disproportionate impact on women and students from certain countries.”

Labour said that it will not oppose the measures because “proper enforcement” is “long overdue.”

But the SNP has called on Westminster to drop the proposals, with its MPs writing a letter to Ms Braverman to demand a U-turn.

SNP science and technology spokeswoman Carol Monaghan, one of the signatories, said: “This policy is a smokescreen for Braverman’s real agenda – to launch an attack on migrants, regardless of the benefits they bring to Britain.

“She is pursuing a short-sighted, reactionary programme to stoke tensions, with international students being caught in the crossfire.”