Well I thought it would be UK nationals given priority due to the the loans would be easier to get compared to someone who lives outside the UK and that fact pilots have in the past that were taken on left after a few years (Was told by a pilot) so they try prevent from past mistakes . On the contract side of things there's ways out of everything ! ......
Facts are better than supposition.
I know for a FACT that non UK nationals were included at all stages of last year's FPP programme.
Maybe there's another reason that people don't get through to stage 2....