UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Announces Stricter Immigration Policies to Curb Legal Migration

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged Monday to “finally take back control” of Britain’s borders, unveiling new immigration policies aimed at reducing legal migration and countering rising support for hard-right parties, Arab News reported.

The government’s Immigration White Paper outlines measures to cut overseas care worker visas, double the residency requirement for settlement and citizenship from five to ten years, and strengthen English language requirements for adult dependents.

Starmer criticized the previous Conservative government’s “experiment in open borders,” which saw net migration peak at nearly one million in 2023, up from an average of 200,000 in the 2010s. The Labour government aims to significantly reduce net migration by the next election, likely in 2029, though no specific target was given.

Additional measures include requiring foreign skilled workers to hold university degrees, increasing powers to deport foreign nationals convicted of offenses, and plans to cut 50,000 lower-skilled worker visas this year. High-skilled migrants who contribute to the economy may be fast-tracked.

The adult care sector condemned the closure of social care visas as a “crushing blow.” Starmer also faces pressure to address irregular Channel crossings, with separate legislation underway to tackle illegal immigration.