Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to unveil a sweeping overhaul of Britain’s immigration system on Monday, aimed at significantly curbing the number of people arriving in the UK, as public sentiment shifts and anti-immigration parties gain traction in national polls.
According to Downing Street, Starmer will declare an end to what he describes as a failed era of “open borders” that led to annual migration figures peaking at around one million.
The forthcoming Immigration White Paper, described as a “radical” blueprint, will be formally presented to Parliament after the prime minister outlines the core proposals.
Facing mounting pressure after the anti-immigration Reform Party made strong gains in recent local elections, Starmer has sought to reinforce Labour’s commitment to reducing net migration.
“I promised to restore control and cut migration, and I’m delivering with tough new measures,” he wrote on X on Sunday.
Labour pledged in its last general election campaign to bring down net migration, which stood at 728,000 in the 12 months to June 2023.
Under the new proposals, migrants must reside in the UK for 10 years before becoming eligible for permanent settlement and citizenship, doubling the current requirement.
In addition, English language requirements will be tightened, with all adult dependents expected to demonstrate basic proficiency.
“When people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and learning our language,” Starmer said, noting that stricter controls will apply across all migration categories, including work, family, and study. “Enforcement will be tougher than ever, and migration numbers will fall,” he is expected to declare.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who will formally present the White Paper, said the new policies would grant broader powers to deport foreign nationals involved in criminal activity in the UK. Only those sentenced to more than a year in prison are typically subject to deportation.
Under the revised framework, all foreign nationals convicted of any offence will be reported to the Home Office, which will have expanded authority to remove them from the country.
“The system for returning foreign criminals has been far too weak for too long,” said Cooper. “We need much higher standards.”
The government’s proposals will also address lower-skilled migration. According to Cooper, new visa criteria will raise the minimum skill threshold required for work visas to reduce the influx of lower-paid foreign workers. Jobs will be limited to applicants with degree-level qualifications, while 50,000 lower-skilled worker visas are set to be cut this year.
At the same time, Starmer’s government promises to streamline the process for high-skilled migrants such as medical professionals, engineers, and tech experts, particularly those working in areas like artificial intelligence.
“For years we’ve had a system that encouraged businesses to bring in low-paid workers instead of training up our young people,” Starmer is expected to argue in his speech.
The British government is also under increasing pressure to curb the number of migrants making the dangerous journey across the English Channel in small boats. More than 36,800 people made the crossing from France last year.
According to the Missing Migrants Project, at least 84 individuals, including 14 children, have died attempting the journey so far in 2024.
