Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour party, recently disclosed his manifesto pledge to significantly reduce migration rates for the UK. He declared his commitment to passing legislation prohibiting employers who break the law from recruiting overseas workers and emphasised cultivating the skill set of Britons. Last year, the level of net migration reached 685,000, a figure more than triple that observed during the last election when the Tories promised in their 2019 manifesto to reduce overall numbers. These recent statistics were published following Rishi Sunak’s General Election announcement, subsequently fuelling a campaign centered on the topic of immigration, an area identified as key by both Tories and Labour.
In an interview with The Sun, Starmer vowed to bring down immigration numbers as he aims to continue connecting with the traditional Tory voters. He stated, “Trust in me to control our borders and prioritise the employment of Britons by British businesses if I am entrusted with the keys to no. 10”. He further stressed his commitment to the working class, emphasizing action over discussion about the high migration rate.
Employers who infringe employment law, for example, those who fail to provide minimum wages to employees or neglect health and safety regulations, would be prohibited from hiring overseas workers according to the Labour leader’s plan. This approach advocates for a home-preference recruitment process, stating that local businesses should always have the option of hiring Britons first. Starmer’s tactics would lead to a change in the law where businesses that apply for foreign worker visas would be required to train Britons for the job.
In executing this plan, collaboration between Migration Advisory Committee, Industrial Strategy Council and Skills England would be promoted, thereby indirectly reducing the benefits bill. However, he did not reveal a specific target for migrant numbers or set a definite timeline.
Starmer criticised the failure of successive Tory governments to effectively reduce immigration numbers. He expressed, “The Tories have constantly assured everyone of lowering these numbers, an endeavour at which they have consistently failed. They lack an effective strategy”.