Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a crackdown on immigration, citing concerns that the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” without controls. In a Downing Street speech, Starmer emphasized the need for fair rules to shape the nation’s values and guide responsibilities towards each other.
He stated, “Let me put it this way, nations depend on rules, fair rules. Sometimes they are written down, often they are not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other.”
The proposed immigration reforms aim to reduce net migration figures, which stood at 728,000 in the year to mid-2024. Starmer wants levels to have fallen significantly by the end of the Parliament, although no numerical target has been set. Under the new plans, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship. However, “high-contributing” individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Key Proposals
- Language Requirements: Increased language requirements for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
- Adult Dependants: Adult dependants will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
- Skilled Worker Visas: Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
Starmer’s government is also looking to stop foreign recruitment of care workers, a move labelled as “cruel” by Care England’s chief executive Martin Green. The Prime Minister has promised to “tighten up” all elements of the system. “We will deliver what you’ve asked for time and again, and we will take back control of our borders,” Starmer said, echoing a slogan used by Brexit campaigners.
The announcement comes after Reform UK’s strong performance in local council elections, which deputy leader Richard Tice attributed to public anger about both legal and illegal migration. The Conservatives have accused Starmer of trying to take credit for recent reductions in visa numbers that resulted from Conservative reforms in April 2024.
Reactions to the proposals have been mixed. The Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said, “Labour must now focus on fixing our broken immigration system and the Liberal Democrats look forward to scrutinising the government’s plans to ensure a system that works for our economy and our country.”