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| UK risks becoming ‘island of strangers’ without more immigration curbs, Starmer says | UK risks becoming ‘island of strangers’ without more immigration curbs, Starmer says |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| PM unveils policies to ‘significantly’ drive down net migration including English tests and degree requirements | PM unveils policies to ‘significantly’ drive down net migration including English tests and degree requirements |
| The UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” without tougher controls on who enters the country, Keir Starmer has said, as he unveiled a set of policies meant to significantly drive down net migration. | The UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” without tougher controls on who enters the country, Keir Starmer has said, as he unveiled a set of policies meant to significantly drive down net migration. |
| The prime minister said his government would “take back control of our borders” and close the book on a “squalid chapter” of rising inward migration. | The prime minister said his government would “take back control of our borders” and close the book on a “squalid chapter” of rising inward migration. |
| Net migration, the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number leaving, was 728,000 in the 12 months to June 2024. Under the last Conservative government, the figure surged to more than 900,000. | Net migration, the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number leaving, was 728,000 in the 12 months to June 2024. Under the last Conservative government, the figure surged to more than 900,000. |
| Starmer said at a Downing Street press conference on Monday that he wanted levels of immigration to have fallen significantly by the end of this parliament, without setting a numerical target. | Starmer said at a Downing Street press conference on Monday that he wanted levels of immigration to have fallen significantly by the end of this parliament, without setting a numerical target. |
| He said: “Nations depend on rules, fair rules. Sometimes they are written down, often they are not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other. | He said: “Nations depend on rules, fair rules. Sometimes they are written down, often they are not, but either way, they give shape to our values, guide us towards our rights, of course, but also our responsibilities, the obligations we owe to each other. |
| “In a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together. | “In a diverse nation like ours, and I celebrate that, these rules become even more important. Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together. |
| Adults accompanying foreign workers to the UK will be expected to pass an English language test and care homes will be prevented from recruiting staff from abroad as part of the new measures. | Adults accompanying foreign workers to the UK will be expected to pass an English language test and care homes will be prevented from recruiting staff from abroad as part of the new measures. |
| The government will also end the right of foreign workers to automatically apply for settlement in the UK after five years, instead extending their wait to 10 years. | The government will also end the right of foreign workers to automatically apply for settlement in the UK after five years, instead extending their wait to 10 years. |
| Also included will be plans to deport more foreign criminals, tell employers they must train UK staff and requirements that skilled workers entering Britain have a degree. | Also included will be plans to deport more foreign criminals, tell employers they must train UK staff and requirements that skilled workers entering Britain have a degree. |
| The announcements are part of Labour’s long-awaited white paper on immigration to be put before parliament on Monday, and follow the electoral success of Nigel Farage’s party in the local elections this month. | The announcements are part of Labour’s long-awaited white paper on immigration to be put before parliament on Monday, and follow the electoral success of Nigel Farage’s party in the local elections this month. |
| Starmer insisted that tackling migration would not harm growth, saying the theory that higher immigration numbers lead to higher growth had been “tested” by the previous government and “that link doesn’t hold”. | Starmer insisted that tackling migration would not harm growth, saying the theory that higher immigration numbers lead to higher growth had been “tested” by the previous government and “that link doesn’t hold”. |
| “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 when the last government lost control, to nearly 1 million, and stagnant growth. And so that link doesn’t hold on that evidence,” he said. | “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 when the last government lost control, to nearly 1 million, and stagnant growth. And so that link doesn’t hold on that evidence,” he said. |
| Echoing the slogan used by Brexit campaigners during the 2016 EU referendum, Starmer said: “We will deliver what you’ve asked for time and again, and we will take back control of our borders.” | |
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| He said the numbers would fall “significantly” but declined to put a figure on it. | He said the numbers would fall “significantly” but declined to put a figure on it. |
| “I’m promising it [net migration] will fall significantly, and I do want to get it down by the end of this parliament, significantly.” | “I’m promising it [net migration] will fall significantly, and I do want to get it down by the end of this parliament, significantly.” |
| In his opening remarks, he said he would be prepared to introduce further measures. | In his opening remarks, he said he would be prepared to introduce further measures. |
| “If we do need to take further steps, if we do need to do more to release pressure on housing and our public services, then mark my words we will,” he added. | “If we do need to take further steps, if we do need to do more to release pressure on housing and our public services, then mark my words we will,” he added. |
| Asked if Labour MPs might be “squeamish” about introducing further curbs on net migration, Starmer said the party has as a “core value” the idea that immigration should be controlled. “We should be choosing who we want, higher skills, the high talent routes into our country. And it must be fair,” he said. | Asked if Labour MPs might be “squeamish” about introducing further curbs on net migration, Starmer said the party has as a “core value” the idea that immigration should be controlled. “We should be choosing who we want, higher skills, the high talent routes into our country. And it must be fair,” he said. |