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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/12/the-guardian-view-on-labours-immigration-plan-cohesion-isnt-helped-by-talk-of-strangers
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| The Guardian view on Labour’s immigration plan: cohesion isn’t helped by talk of ‘strangers’ | The Guardian view on Labour’s immigration plan: cohesion isn’t helped by talk of ‘strangers’ |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| The prime minister says he wants to rebuild communities and opportunities, but he risks playing into opponents’ hands | |
| Every government needs an immigration policy and the one led by Sir Keir Starmer is no exception. Laws are required to establish the terms under which migration to the UK is allowed, and to deal with the complexities surrounding irregular arrivals. But the decision to publish an immigration white paper a week after Reform UK made significant gains in local elections, when it is riding high in national polls, is hard to defend. Rather than defusing public concerns, the prime minister risks playing into the hard right’s hands – and undermining the community cohesion he says he wants to protect. | Every government needs an immigration policy and the one led by Sir Keir Starmer is no exception. Laws are required to establish the terms under which migration to the UK is allowed, and to deal with the complexities surrounding irregular arrivals. But the decision to publish an immigration white paper a week after Reform UK made significant gains in local elections, when it is riding high in national polls, is hard to defend. Rather than defusing public concerns, the prime minister risks playing into the hard right’s hands – and undermining the community cohesion he says he wants to protect. |
| Some of the proposed measures are reasonable. Others are not. Visa rules are complicated and ministers have identified real concerns about the way the system works. But the timing and language, particularly the prime minister’s references to an “island of strangers” and forces “pulling our country apart”, were awful choices. The danger is that such rhetoric ends up reinforcing divisions and xenophobia. | Some of the proposed measures are reasonable. Others are not. Visa rules are complicated and ministers have identified real concerns about the way the system works. But the timing and language, particularly the prime minister’s references to an “island of strangers” and forces “pulling our country apart”, were awful choices. The danger is that such rhetoric ends up reinforcing divisions and xenophobia. |
| Sir Keir’s target is the opposition’s record. He is right that the policies of the Conservatives were a cynical disgrace. Legal migration rose from 224,000 in 2019 to 906,000 in 2023. Voters who were entitled to think they had opted for reduced inward migration, both in the Brexit referendum and by electing a prime minister, Boris Johnson, who vowed to “take back control” of borders, instead got a free-market experiment. While the Tories used their inhumane Rwanda scheme as a distraction, employers ramped up overseas recruitment as skill thresholds were lowered. | Sir Keir’s target is the opposition’s record. He is right that the policies of the Conservatives were a cynical disgrace. Legal migration rose from 224,000 in 2019 to 906,000 in 2023. Voters who were entitled to think they had opted for reduced inward migration, both in the Brexit referendum and by electing a prime minister, Boris Johnson, who vowed to “take back control” of borders, instead got a free-market experiment. While the Tories used their inhumane Rwanda scheme as a distraction, employers ramped up overseas recruitment as skill thresholds were lowered. |
| In manufacturing, transport and engineering, the subsequent increase in foreign employees is correlated with a decline in the UK workforce and apprenticeships. The failure of this laissez-faire approach to the economy has not been limited to jobs. Living standards have stagnated, with lower rates of growth than in the eurozone and US. The government is right that employers should invest in people here, as well as scouting in other countries. If it is well run, the new Labour Market Evidence Group could play a positive role in a more industrially activist government. It is good to signal a looser approach to refugees working, and reasonable to expect migrant workers’ dependants to learn English. Councils should support this. | In manufacturing, transport and engineering, the subsequent increase in foreign employees is correlated with a decline in the UK workforce and apprenticeships. The failure of this laissez-faire approach to the economy has not been limited to jobs. Living standards have stagnated, with lower rates of growth than in the eurozone and US. The government is right that employers should invest in people here, as well as scouting in other countries. If it is well run, the new Labour Market Evidence Group could play a positive role in a more industrially activist government. It is good to signal a looser approach to refugees working, and reasonable to expect migrant workers’ dependants to learn English. Councils should support this. |
| However, the white paper, in both tone and substance, is distinctly illiberal. It uses the language of “fairness”, “integration” and “public confidence”. But its core proposals represent a consolidation of executive power, a curtailment of individual rights and a weakening of judicial independence. These are not reforms – they are regressions. | However, the white paper, in both tone and substance, is distinctly illiberal. It uses the language of “fairness”, “integration” and “public confidence”. But its core proposals represent a consolidation of executive power, a curtailment of individual rights and a weakening of judicial independence. These are not reforms – they are regressions. |
| The pledge to deport more foreign criminals smacks of tabloid politics. Granting counter-terrorism-style powers to the Border Force risks stoking, not easing, fear. Cancelling social care visas on the grounds of “abuse” threatens a sector already on the brink. Raising salary thresholds for those with dependants penalises lower-paid workers. And while it is right to review student visas, the real issue is the crisis in underfunding of higher education – not the students themselves. | The pledge to deport more foreign criminals smacks of tabloid politics. Granting counter-terrorism-style powers to the Border Force risks stoking, not easing, fear. Cancelling social care visas on the grounds of “abuse” threatens a sector already on the brink. Raising salary thresholds for those with dependants penalises lower-paid workers. And while it is right to review student visas, the real issue is the crisis in underfunding of higher education – not the students themselves. |
| Sir Keir’s anger about the Tories’ track record is justified. It harms democracy, and helps opportunists like Nigel Farage, when parties tell voters one thing while doing another. But past mistakes do not justify present ones. Migrants have been and will remain a vital part of the UK’s labour force and student bodies. The government and its MPs must highlight these positives clearly and loudly. | Sir Keir’s anger about the Tories’ track record is justified. It harms democracy, and helps opportunists like Nigel Farage, when parties tell voters one thing while doing another. But past mistakes do not justify present ones. Migrants have been and will remain a vital part of the UK’s labour force and student bodies. The government and its MPs must highlight these positives clearly and loudly. |
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| Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. | Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here. |