Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer unveiled new immigration plans today, promising that “every area” of the system will be “tightened up”. Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Immigration White Paper publication, Sir Keir slammed the Tories for their previous failures, yet failed to put a new target figure on net migration. The rules follow figures released earlier this year showing the number of student visas being used to work in the UK has increased by 5 times.
In 2024, when Labour took power, half of non-EU students and their dependents transitioned to work or other visas after three years in the UK, compared to only 10% who did so less than three years earlier, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). 194,300 people (47%) who arrived in 2023 switched from a study-related visa to a work-related visa, highlighting a potential loophole in gaining access to permanent residence in the UK.
The new figures contribute to the record net migration in the year ending June 2023, where the revised number stands at 906,000. This is four times the rate before Brexit.
However, when speaking at the press conference this morning, the Prime Minister dodged the question on whether net migration would fall every year between now and the next election, instead saying he wants to “get it down by the end of this Parliament”.
“I’m promising it will fall significantly, and I do want to get it down by the end of this Parliament, significantly,” he said.
Net migration is the number of people coming into the UK minus those leaving. Before Labour won the 2024 General Election, the Tories made policy changes to reduce the soaring migration figures, including limitations on students bringing dependents with them to the UK and a hike in the skilled worker salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700.
Since the restrictions, overall net migration has dropped by just under 20% to 728,000. The number of students has also decreased by 19% in the year to September 2024.
Labour’s system overhaul, announced today, includes ending automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living here for five years.
Instead, migrants must live in the UK for a decade before applying to stay, unless they can show a real and lasting contribution to the economy and society.
The prime minister has also changed the English language requirements across every immigration route, meaning anyone wishing to live and work in the UK must speak a higher standard of English.
This will extend to all adult dependents for the first time, requiring them to demonstrate a basic understanding of English.