Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to “take back control of our borders” as he unveiled new measures designed to slash net migration.
The prime minister gave a speech in Downing Street on Monday morning as he announced that every area of the UK’s “broken” immigration system will be tightened.
Under the new white paper proposals, migrants will be told they must learn English and “earn the privilege” to live in the UK.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
Migrants will also be told they need to spend a decade in the UK before they can apply for citizenship and English language requirements will be increased
“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,” he said.
The move come after Labour lost the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform MP Sarah Pochin in a major boost to Nigel Farage’s party earlier this month.
Key points
Keir Starmer says migrants will have to ‘earn the right’ to live in UK as part of new crackdown
What are the reforms Starmer is announcing?
Starmer delivers speech on migration reforms
Farage criticises Starmer's 'big fightback' against Reform UK
Starmer avoids putting number on target net migration
08:58 , Athena Stavrou
The prime minister did not answer a question on whether net migration would fall every year between now and the next election but said he wants to “get it down by the end of this Parliament”.
Asked if net migration would fall every year, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I’m promising it (net migration) will fall significantly, and I do want to get it down by the end of this Parliament, significantly.
“That is what this plan is intended to achieve.
“This White Paper, these plans bring it back into control, make sure it’s controlled, that it’s selective, that we decide who comes to this country, and that it is fair, and that’s what we will do.
“Significant reduction in immigration and, as I’ve indicated, if it becomes necessary to take further measures, then that’s what we will do.”
Analysis: Starmer walks a tightrope on migration
08:56
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Downing Street:
Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to walk a tightrope on the issue of migration, doing verbal acrobatics trying to acknowledge the contribution migrants have made to Britain whilst also persuading voters he will "take back control" of our borders.
I will "never denigrate" the contribution of migrants to the UK economy, the prime minister said, whilst also hitting out at industries he claimed are "addicted to importing cheap labour".
He pointed to the "bravery" of migrants who contributed to the rebuilding of Britain after WW2, whilst also saying migrants must "commit to integration" in Britain and promising to "back British workers".
Today's speech was finely tuned in an attempt to be both tough enough to persuade Reform voters that he is the right man for the job, without entirely mimicking the party's rhetoric.
Starmer lets slip reticence over migration announcement
08:51 , Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Downing Street:
Sir Keir Starmer let slip his reticence at having to deliver today's migration announcement.
The PM, who was taking questions from the media in Downing Street, urged journalists not to ask two questions at once, adding: "We've got to just... get through this."
The inadvertent remark drew laughs from the media - though not from the PM himself - as the comment indicated an acknowledgement from the PM that - no matter how hard he tries to mimic Reform's rhetoric - migration will never be the most comfortable topic for Labour.
Starmer acknowledges 'massive contribution' migrants make to UK
08:50 , Athena Stavrou
As he unveils the government’s latest immigration crackdown, the prime minister did take a moment to acknowledge the positive role of migrants in the UK.
“Migration is part of Britain's national story," he said.
"We talked last week about the great rebuilding of this country after the war. Migrants were part of that and they make a massive contribution today. And you will never hear me denigrate that.”
He added: "But when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration, to learning our language. And our system should actively distinguish between those that do and those that don't. I think that's fair."
UK risks becoming 'island of strangers' - Starmer
08:47
After insisting the new migration rules were not being put in place because of politics, Sir Keir Starmer said: “I’m doing this because it is right. Because it is fair and because it is what I believe in.”
He went on to say “nations depend on rules” and that without these sometimes “unwritten” rules the UK “risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together”.
Analysis: Hard to believe that this announcement is not about politics
08:39 , Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Sir Keir Starmer is talking at length about why he is making this announcement today cutting down on immigration.
He claims it is not to do about politics, but “because it is the right thing to do”.
The timing though makes this hard to believe. Not least the drubbing that Reform gave Labour in the local elections and Runcorn and Helsby by-election earlier this month.
The threat of Nigel Farage and his five point lead in the polls over Starmer hangs like a shadow over the theatre of today.
Analysis: We have heard “take back control” of our borders before
08:37 , Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Keir Starmer strides up to the podium and vows to “take back control”.
He is deliberately using the words of Boris Johnson and the Brexiteers because, as he notes, they failed to “take back control of borders”.
He points out how under the Tory Brexiteers immigration in fact quadrupled instead of came down.
So it may be that the man who tried to overturn the referendum leave vote is actually delivering on the Brexit promise.
Starmer opens by attacking Tories record on migration and Brexit
08:36 , Athena Stavrou
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports from Downing Street:
The PM has launched an attack on the previous Conservative government's record on both migration and Brexit, saying they "conducted a one nation experiment in open borders conducted on a country that voted for control".
"The experiment is over", the prime minister warned, promising to deliver "what you ask for time and again".
"We will take back control of our borders", he said.
Starmer delivering speech migration reforms
08:33 , Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has begun his speech announcing the government crackdown on UK migration.
The prime minister is speaking at a press conference at Downing Street, in front of many cabinet members who have shown up in support.
Press conference to begin shortly
08:30 , Athena Stavrou
We are expecting Sir Keir Starmer will begin a press conference at Downing Street shortly.
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke is at Downing Street, where members of the cabinet have also gathered in support of the prime minister.
We will be bringing you updates from Downing Street as they happen.
What are we expecting Starmer to say?
08:28
Starmer will begin a Downing Street press conference shortly, where he will unveil government reforms on UK migration.
“Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control,” the Prime Minister is expected to say on Monday.
“Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.”
He will say that the system under the reforms will be “controlled, selective and fair”, and will recognise “those who genuinely contribute to Britain’s growth and society, while restoring common sense and control to our borders”.
Government plans 'barmy' - Tories
08:24 , Athena Stavrou
The Government’s plans to bring down immigration is “barmy” and will allow those who arrive in the UK illegally to become British citizens, the shadow crime and policing minister has said.
Matt Vickers told Times Radio: “Today the Government are allowing people who arrive illegally – they’re changing the law so that people arrive in this country illegally will be able to become British citizens.
“That’s barmy.
“That’s an advert to the world, it’s saying ‘Come here, you could become a British citizen the way you couldn’t until this Bill goes through’.”
Cabinet all parading in to support Starmer for big moment on immigration
08:16 , Athena Stavrou
From Downing Street, The Independent’s Millie Cooke reports that most of the cabinet appears to be coming to Keir Starmer’s press conference.
She spotted health secretary Wes Streeting and education secretary Bridget Phillipson walking in.
Streeting in particular is going to have to deal with the impact of losing visas for workers in the social care sector.
The message on immigration is going to be a tough one and hit a lot of sectors.
But politically it is essential to regain the initiative from Nigel Farage and Reform.Starmer clearly wants a show of force to prove he is taking this issue seriously.
Nigel Farage criticises Starmer's 'big fightback' against Reform UK
08:10
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has attempted to undermine the prime minister’s migration plans, soon before they are announced.
Farage claimed: “On the day of Keir Starmer’s big fightback against Reform UK, 250 young men are already crossing the Channel by 8am”.
Starmer’s plans come after Labour lost the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform MP Sarah Pochin in a major boost to Farage’s party earlier this month.
Full report: Starmer says migrants will have to ‘earn the right’ to live in UK
07:55 , Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer has said those coming to the UK will have to “earn the right” to stay as Labour unveils sweeping reforms designed to slash net migration and tackle the threat posed by Nigel Farage and Reform.
The prime minister said migrants must commit to integration and learning English, as part of a crackdown ministers say will boost economic growth.
In what the Labour leader claimed would be a “clean break” from the past, the changes include a wait of 10 years, not five, to apply for permanent residency – unless they can prove a significant contribution – a ban on recruiting care workers from overseas and, for the first time, adult dependents will have to prove they understand basic English.
My colleague Kate Devlin has the full story:
Starmer says migrants will have to ‘earn the right’ to live in UK in new crackdown
Labour 'stolen ideas' from Tories - Chris Philp
07:49 , Athena Stavrou
The Labour Government has “stolen one or two ideas” on immigration from the Tories, Chris Philp said.
The shadow home secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “They have certainly stolen one or two ideas, but that’s good – politics is about getting things done, and I’m pleased when our ideas get implemented.
“But taken as a whole, I don’t think from what I’ve seen so far, Keir Starmer’s announcements will go far enough because we have the view that immigration – legal migration – has been far too high in recent years.”
Plans to stop UK care home from overseas recruitment causing 'significant problems'
07:47 , Athena Stavrou
Government plans to get rid of care worker visas risk causing “significant problems” in the sector, a care home chain director has said.
Amy Clark, commercial director of a Cornwall care home chain, told the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme that the measures could cause challenges because “recruiting locally is very, very difficult”.
“The big problem that we would have is if we weren’t able to recruit any overseas staff because recruiting locally is very, very difficult”, Ms Clark said.
“We try all the time to recruit locally. We put our wages up, we still don’t get applicants.
“We’ve always paid higher than minimum wage, but that is becoming increasingly difficult, especially with the national insurance costs and also the national minimum wage increase and the pitiful uplift from the local authorities in relation to the social care funding.”
The Independent View: Why the PM is right to be tough on immigration but also compassionate
07:40 , Athena Stavrou
Announcing the government’s long-awaited white paper on immigration, the prime minister said that every area of what he called a “broken system” would be tightened up, in “a clean break from the past”.
Enforcement, he said, would be “tougher than ever”, asserting that “migration will fall”.
Sir Keir Starmer’s language chimed with weekend headlines about a “crackdown” – a shorthand description that surely displeased few in government, given the centrality of migration as an issue at the recent elections.
The government has a tricky balancing act when it comes to immigration. It has to serve the economy, address public disquiet and also maintain an asylum system, but Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper seem to have the right approach.
Read The Independent’s full Editorial here:
The PM is right to be tough but compassionate on immigration
Starmer to give speech this morning
07:39
Sir Keir Starmer will be holding an early morning press conference on Monday morning as he announces a government’s crackdown on immigration.
The prime minister will hold a press conference at around 8:30am.
His speech will happen at the same time the Immigration White Paper, is set to be unveiled on Monday.
What are the new rules Starmer is announcing?
07:36 , Athena Stavrou
Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to announce sweeping new measures to reform the UK’s immigration system.
Here is a look at what reforms are being proposed:
- The prime minister said those coming to the UK will have to “earn the right” to stay.
- Migrants must commit to integration and learning English.
- A wait of 10 years, not five, to apply for permanent residency – unless someone can prove a significant contribution.
- A ban on recruiting care workers from overseas.
- Adult dependents will have to prove they understand basic English.
Keir Starmer says migrants will have to ‘earn the right’ to live in UK as part of new crackdown
07:29 , Athena Stavrou
Migrants will be told they need to spend up to a decade in the UK before they can apply for citizenship and English language requirements will be increased as part of the Government’s immigration crackdown.
Sir Keir Starmer will promise to “tighten up” all elements of the system as ministers look to bring down net figures, but are facing pushback against plans to stop foreign recruitment of care workers.
The Prime Minister is expected to say that “enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall” as a result of the policies in the Immigration White Paper, set to be unveiled on Monday.
This article was written by Athena Stavrou, Millie Cooke and David Maddox from The Independent and was legally licensed through the DiveMarketplace by Industry Dive. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@industrydive.com.
(Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)