UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a plan to reduce net migration, which has reached a record high. At a press conference on Thursday, Starmer outlined reforms to the country’s points-based immigration system, aimed at addressing the growing reliance on foreign labor. This announcement follows the release of new data showing that net migration surged to 906,000 in the year ending June 2023, a record figure.

Starmer criticized the previous Conservative government's policies, blaming them for the dramatic rise in migration. He linked the increase to mismanagement and Brexit-related decisions, saying, "A failure on this scale isn't just bad luck... Brexit was used for that purpose to turn Britain into a 'one nation experiment' in open borders."

To address these concerns, Starmer proposed changes to the points-based visa system, which was introduced by the Conservatives in 2021. This system grants visas based on applicants' skills and qualifications. Starmer said his reforms would focus on industries that rely heavily on immigration, requiring businesses to invest more in training local workers.

“Applications for the skilled worker route or the shortage occupation list will now come with new expectations on training people here in our country,” Starmer said. He warned businesses that fail to comply with these new requirements could face bans on hiring workers from abroad.

Migration Data Raises Questions

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) recently reported the record-high net migration number of 906,000 for June 2023, up from earlier estimates of 740,000. This figure was influenced by improvements in tracking methods, including more accurate estimates of Ukraine visas. While net migration fell by 20% to 728,000 by June 2024, the decline was largely due to fewer dependents accompanying students after changes in immigration rules by the previous government.

Since the 2016 Brexit vote, Britain’s immigration system has been under intense scrutiny, with concerns over the capacity of public services and gaps in key sectors such as healthcare. Although migration from the European Union has decreased following Brexit, new visa rules have led to an influx of workers from countries like India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, mainly to fill shortages in health and social care.

High levels of migration continue to be a sensitive issue in Britain. Starmer's proposals seek to balance the country’s economic needs with public concerns over immigration.

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