By Kay Noel
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government plans to overhaul the immigration system, aiming to significantly reduce migration numbers. The proposed changes include mandatory English language tests for all visa applicants and their adult dependents, a longer route to settled status for visa holders, and cutting overseas care worker recruitment. These measures target legal migration, which accounts for most UK migration.
The government will publish a White Paper outlining the immigration plan and reform the system where sectors are deemed overly reliant on immigration. Employers who breach visa rules may face bans on recruiting overseas labor. Net migration reached 728,000 in the year ending June 2024.
Reactions to the plan are mixed. Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch claims Labour “can’t be trusted” to protect UK borders, while Reform Leader Nigel Farage accuses Starmer of “making promises he can’t keep”. The government has also announced plans to work with the Global South and European partners to tackle drivers of small boat arrivals, with a funding package of up to £84 million to address factors driving irregular migration.
Additionally, the UK government has confirmed funding for law enforcement in Iraq to tackle people-smuggling gangs and has seen a 53% increase in asylum returns over the last 12 months. The new immigration plan aims to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign workers by promoting domestic workforce development and enhancing working conditions.
