Context:

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans to introduce stricter immigration rules in response to rising public dissatisfaction with high immigration levels, which many believe have strained public services and increased ethnic tensions. The new legislation aims to end what is perceived as an unsuccessful open border policy, focusing on more controlled and selective immigration. Skilled visas will be limited to graduate-level jobs, and lower-skilled visas will be issued only in strategic sectors, with an emphasis on training British workers. The government also intends to increase English language proficiency requirements for immigrants to promote integration and reduce exploitation. There are concerns from employers about potential difficulties in filling jobs, particularly as the Reform UK party gains traction by capitalizing on immigration issues in recent elections.

Dive Deeper:

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labour Party intends to implement tougher immigration policies amid voter frustration over high immigration numbers, which are thought to have put a strain on public services and heightened ethnic tensions.

• The proposed legislation seeks to terminate the perceived failure of an open border system by establishing more controlled and selective immigration processes, in response to the rising popularity of the anti-immigration Reform UK party.

• The new immigration framework will restrict skilled work visas to individuals with graduate-level jobs and limit visas for lower-skilled roles to sectors crucial to the national industrial strategy, encouraging businesses to train local workers.

• To enhance integration and prevent exploitation, all adult dependents of immigrants will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of English, ensuring that settlement in the UK is considered a privilege rather than a right.

• Despite the goals of the new policy, there are concerns from business groups that the restrictions on foreign workers could lead to labor shortages and difficulties in filling positions, especially in sectors such as healthcare.

• Immigration numbers have increased due to new visa rules and the arrival of individuals from countries like Ukraine and Hong Kong, even as EU migrant numbers have decreased following Brexit.

• The British government, led by interior minister Yvette Cooper, aims to take decisive action to regain control and order in the immigration system, addressing what is seen as a legacy of a failed free market experiment in immigration.