The United Kingdom may be heading toward becoming an “island of strangers” unless firmer immigration rules are put in place, Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned on Monday, May 12.
Speaking from Downing Street, Starmer introduced a comprehensive white paper that lays out Labour’s new approach to immigration — one he says will “take back control of our borders” and close a “squalid chapter” of rising migration.
The proposed immigration overhaul aims to bring net migration down by approximately 100,000 annually, according to a fresh Home Office analysis. This follows a dramatic increase in net migration, which reached 728,000 in the 12 months leading up to June 2024, up from more than 900,000 under the previous Conservative government. If Labour’s proposals are fully implemented, estimates suggest net migration could drop to 300,000 by 2029.
While Starmer refrained from setting a specific numerical target, he emphasized his desire to see numbers “fall significantly by the end of this parliament.” Framing immigration rules as fundamental to national unity, he stated, “Nations depend on rules, fair rules… Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together.”
New Rules Target Foreign Worker Visas
The policy package includes significant visa reforms and tighter restrictions on foreign workers and students. Adults accompanying migrant workers will be required to pass English language tests, and care homes will be banned from recruiting staff from abroad.
In addition, foreign workers will no longer be allowed to apply for settlement after five years; the wait time will be extended to a decade.
The Labour government also intends to revisit human rights interpretations that allow people to stay in the UK on “exceptional circumstances” related to family life. Other measures include deporting more foreign offenders, increasing the burden on employers to train UK citizens, and requiring skilled migrants to hold university degrees.
Midway through the announcement, Starmer addressed the pressing concern of economic impact, rejecting the idea that migration necessarily fuels growth.
“The theory that higher migration numbers necessarily lead to higher growth has been tested in the last four years. We’ve had the highest net migration… and stagnant growth.”
Keir Starmer
Among the most notable elements of the white paper are reforms to the student visa system. The government plans to reduce graduate visa durations to 18 months and introduce a 6% levy on income earned by universities from international students. The revenue from this levy will be used to subsidize domestic student expenses.
Employers hiring foreign workers will also feel the effects of Labour’s new strategy. The immigration skills surcharge will increase by 32%, placing greater financial pressure on businesses seeking international talent.
These proposals, which follow a surge in support for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the recent local elections, are part of Labour’s broader effort to respond to public sentiment on migration. Echoing the Brexit-era rhetoric, Starmer reiterated, “We will deliver what you’ve asked for time and again, and we will take back control of our borders.”
Despite concerns that Labour MPs might resist stricter immigration controls, Starmer insisted the party remains united on the principle of fairness.
“We should be choosing who we want, higher skills, the high talent routes into our country. And it must be fair.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer
He concluded with a firm commitment to respond with additional actions if necessary: “If we do need to take further steps… then mark my words we will.”
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