London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a series of stringent immigration reforms on Sunday, pledging to bring down migration numbers and increase enforcement, as his government faces mounting pressure from Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party.
Starmer’s Labour government is set to release legislative proposals on Monday aimed at reducing legal immigration and reshaping the pathway to settlement and citizenship. The push follows growing public concern over migration figures and the rising appeal of Reform UK, which has campaigned aggressively on anti-immigration rhetoric.
“Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control,” Starmer said in a statement. “Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.”
Under the proposed changes, migrants will have to wait 10 years—up from five—to be eligible for permanent settlement and eventual citizenship. However, exceptions will apply to highly skilled professionals such as nurses, doctors, engineers, and artificial intelligence experts, who will have access to a fast-tracked process.
Migrants holding visas in the UK are generally ineligible for state welfare benefits or access to public housing, but the new rules will further limit eligibility by extending the period before applicants can claim welfare assistance.
In a parallel move, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper outlined new visa restrictions over the weekend. These include limiting skilled worker visas to those holding graduate-level qualifications, curbing care sector firms from hiring abroad, and obliging employers to invest more in training domestic workers.
The government also plans to introduce tougher English language requirements. All adult dependents of visa holders will be required to demonstrate basic English proficiency, a measure intended to promote better integration and reduce the risk of exploitation.
“This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right,” Starmer added. “And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language.”
While the number of European Union migrants has dropped significantly since Brexit, overall migration to the UK has surged. The increase has been driven by new visa pathways for people arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong, as well as a spike in international students.
Also Read | Polarization, Trade, and Growth at Core of South Korea’s 2025 Presidential Election
According to official statistics, net migration to the UK reached a record high of 906,000 in the year ending June 2023, a dramatic rise from the 184,000 recorded in 2019 when the UK was still part of the EU.
However, employer groups have expressed concern that the proposed measures could deepen labor shortages across various sectors.
Also Read | Israel Agrees to Safe Corridor for U.S. Hostage Release, But Rejects Ceasefire with Hamas
“This major intervention in the labour market will leave many employers fearful that in tackling concerns about immigration, government goes after the wrong target,” said Neil Carberry, Chief Executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).
Carberry emphasized the importance of remaining open to skilled workers, stating that “a controlled, affordable and responsive immigration system that keeps investment flowing to the UK” is critical to the country’s economic vitality.
