A London assembly member has raised concerns that the government’s immigration policy is affecting the city’s economy.

Andrew Dismore, spoke in yesterday's Mayor’s Question Time and said the recent Windrush scandal demonstrated the consequences of the Conservative government’s "hostility" to immigration.

He said: “London is dependent on migrant labour, from the EU and beyond. How can London’s migrants be reassured of their welcome and future status here?”

Mr Dismore added that the cap on non-EU skilled workers reached its limit for the fourth month in a row in March with 6,000 skilled workers refused visas, including 1,518 doctors.

The assembly member also expressed concern that London would lose skilled EU workers as well as saying that the government is misleading business by claiming they can access talent from non-EU workers.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “We have a slow-down in EU workers coming to the capital. It is damaging to London’s reputation and risks London’s economy.

“We all have a responsibility to reassure migrants that we value them.

“We now have a perfect storm with EU nationals leaving London or not coming, and the Conservative Government’s hard cap on numbers is stopping non-EU workers, with businesses and the public sector missing out on the staff they need, including doctors and teachers.

“The Government’s obsession with numbers is affecting lives. They are cutting off their nose to spite their face.”

Earlier this week the mayor called on the government to prevent a future Windrush scandal by waiving citizenship application fees for young people who have lived in the UK most of their lives but do not officially have British citizenship.

Mr Khan argued that these young people are faced with the higher university fees because they are classed as international students, and have no access to student loans.

He reiterated this message to the London assembly when he once again highlighted that young people who grew up in London but aren’t officially British citizens are facings barriers to education and jobs.

He added: “EU citizens are really important in both construction and hospitality.

“We have to ensure they are welcome here because they make a great contribution.”