I want migration to fall ‘significantly’ by the next election, possibly in 2029, Prime Minister Keir Starmer
Immigration Reporter Daily Dawn + Dawn TV Report
London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that his government has decided to tighten immigration rules to regain control of Britain’s borders.
Labor leader Keir Starmer announced that he is ending the ‘open borders experiment’ in which almost one million people migrated under the previous Conservative government, which was defeated in last year’s general election.
The government’s immigration white paper policy document includes plans to reduce the number of overseas (care workers) and increase the period for which they can qualify for citizenship to 10 years from five.
So too are tightening English language rules, which require all dependents to demonstrate a basic understanding, while also reducing the length of time students can stay in the UK after completing their studies.
Keir Starmer said the policies were about regaining control of Britain’s borders, recalling slogans used during the 2016 Brexit campaign.
Labour pledged in its general election manifesto last year to significantly reduce net migration, which was recorded at 728,000 in the 12 months to June.
That number is set to reach 906,000 in 2023, up from an average of 200,000 for most of the 2010s.
Keir Starmer, a former human rights lawyer who voted to leave the EU, is under pressure to tackle immigration after the anti-immigration Reform Party’s successes in recent local elections.
Arch-Eurosceptic Nigel Farage’s party won more than 670 local council seats, as well as its first two mayoral posts, and is also on the rise in national elections.
The British prime minister said that immigrants played a vital role in Britain, but accused the country of becoming an “island of foreigners” without more controls.
He added that he wanted migration to be “significantly” reduced by the next election, possibly in 2029, but declined to say how much.
He told reporters at a Downing Street press conference that every area of the immigration system (work, family and education) would be tightened so that we have more control.
The white paper also includes new powers to deport foreigners who commit crimes in the country.
Keir Starmer said the UK has a system that encourages businesses to bring in low-paid workers rather than invest in our young people.
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