London: The British government has unveiled a new immigration strategy aimed at reversing what it described as a “failed free market experiment” in mass immigration. The overhaul will impose tighter restrictions on skilled worker visas, limiting eligibility to graduate-level roles and obliging businesses to invest in training local workers.
The reform comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces growing pressure to reduce net migration figures, particularly after Reform UK—led by Nigel Farage—made significant gains in recent local elections on an anti-immigration platform.
According to the government’s new policy direction, skilled visas will be granted solely for graduate-level occupations. Meanwhile, visas for lower-skilled roles will be restricted to sectors deemed essential to the country’s industrial strategy. In exchange, businesses will be required to scale up training programs for British citizens.
A white paper detailing the changes is expected to be published on Monday. It will outline how the Labour government plans to reduce migration figures while aligning immigration policy with broader economic goals.
Legal immigration levels have long been a contentious political issue in Britain, particularly in the lead-up to and aftermath of the 2016 Brexit referendum. One of the central arguments for leaving the European Union was to end free movement and reclaim border control.
Following Brexit, the Conservative-led government relaxed eligibility criteria for skilled worker visas, opening the door for applicants in non-traditional roles such as yoga instructors, dog walkers, and DJs.
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“We inherited a failed immigration system where the previous government replaced free movement with a free market experiment,” said Interior Minister Yvette Cooper in a statement. “We are taking decisive action to restore control and order to the immigration system.”
While post-Brexit policy changes sharply reduced EU migration, overall immigration surged due to broader work visa eligibility and special visa schemes for people arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong.
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The scale of that surge was underscored by new figures showing net migration reaching a record 906,000 in the year ending June 2023. This compares with 184,000 in the same period in 2019, prior to Britain’s full withdrawal from the European Union.
The government’s latest approach signals a significant shift—one aimed at redefining how the UK manages labor needs without becoming overly dependent on foreign workers.
