UK Government Tightens Immigration Amid Hard-Right Surge

• Government’s policy document outlines plans to limit overseas care workers.
• Starmer claims the policies will “finally regain control of our borders.”
• Starmer warns the country could become an “island of strangers.”

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer declared on Monday that he would “finally regain control” of Britain’s borders as his administration introduced policies intended to reduce legal immigration and counter the growing influence of far-right groups.

Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, stated that he was terminating an “experiment in open borders” that witnessed net migration surge to almost one million people during the tenure of the previous Conservative government, which lost last year’s elections.

The government’s Immigration White Paper reveals plans to decrease the number of overseas care workers and to extend the period individuals must reside in the UK from five to ten years before being eligible for settlement and citizenship.

Stricter English language requirements will be enacted, mandating that all adult dependents demonstrate a basic understanding of the language. Additionally, the duration students can remain in the UK after completing their studies will be shortened.

Starmer stated that these measures would “finally regain control of our borders,” evoking the pro-Brexit slogan popular during the campaign to exit the European Union in 2016.

In its general election manifesto last year, Labour committed to significantly lowering net immigration, which hit 728,000 in the year leading up to last June.

It reached a peak of 906,000 in 2023 after averaging around 200,000 for much of the 2010s.

Starmer, a former human rights attorney who supported remaining in the EU, faces intensified pressure to address immigration following significant gains by the anti-immigration Reform party in local elections.

Nigel Farage’s party, known for its Eurosceptic stance, secured over 670 local council positions and its first two mayoralties. It is currently performing well in national polls while Labour is struggling.

However, Starmer’s shift towards stricter immigration policies risks alienating a substantial portion of Labour’s liberal base, as the Liberal Democrats and Greens are gaining support from the left.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that migrants “make significant contributions” to the UK but cautioned that, without more stringent controls, the nation risks becoming an “island of strangers.”

He expressed a desire for net migration to decrease “significantly” by the next election, likely in 2029, yet declined to specify how much.

‘Turning the page on chaos’

He faced criticism from a Labour MP, with Nadia Whittome accusing him on BlueSky of echoing the “scaremongering of the far-right.” She remarked, “Migrants are our neighbors, friends, and family,” and denounced the government’s “anti-migrant rhetoric” as shameful and dangerous.

The White Paper introduces new powers to deport foreigners convicted of crimes in the country. Currently, the government is only notified of foreign nationals who receive prison sentences.

With the new guidelines, all foreign nationals found guilty of offenses will be reported to the government.

“Britain has benefited from individuals who come to launch new ventures, study at universities, contribute to our cultural and athletic achievements, and perform some of the most challenging jobs in the nation,” stated Interior Minister Yvette Cooper in Parliament.

“For our immigration system to be both effective and fair, it must be properly regulated and managed,” she added, pledging to “reduce net migration and turn the page on chaos.”

The document also imposes new visa controls requiring foreign skilled workers to have a university degree in order to secure employment in the UK.

In a bid to reduce the number of lower-skilled migrants, Cooper indicated plans to cut 50,000 visas for lower-skilled workers this year.

Regarding the proposal to lengthen the waiting period for settlement or citizenship applications, the government stated that high-skilled individuals “who play by the rules and contribute to the economy” could be expedited.

Care England, a charity advocating for the adult care sector, criticized the move to halt new applications for social care visas from abroad, describing it as a “crushing blow to an already fragile sector.” CEO Martin Green said, “International recruitment wasn’t a cure-all, but it was a lifeline. Removing it without warning, funding, or alternatives is not only shortsighted, it’s cruel.”

Starmer is also being pressured to halt the influx of migrants crossing the English Channel in inflatable dinghies. More than 36,800 made the crossing last year, according to government statistics, with several fatalities reported.

Separate legislation aimed at addressing irregular immigration, known as the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, is currently under consideration in Parliament.