British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to overhaul the immigration system in response to new data showing record-high arrivals in the country. The Office for National Statistics reported that net migration exceeded 900,000 in the year to June 2023, a trend that Starmer blamed on the previous Conservative government. He criticized the Conservatives for failing to reduce immigration numbers and accused them of deliberately liberalizing immigration policies.
Starmer plans to reform the points-based immigration system introduced by the Conservatives in 2021 after Brexit. He believes that the current system does not adequately support British workers and is overly reliant on immigration. The Migration Advisory Committee is conducting a review, and Starmer has pledged to prioritize training people in the UK for certain job sectors.
In addition to reforming the immigration system, Starmer also announced plans to crack down on abuse of visa routes and businesses that do not comply with regulations will be banned from hiring overseas labor. Immigration has long been a contentious issue in the UK, with concerns about the strain on public services and the impact on the economy.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signed an agreement with Iraq to combat people smuggling gangs and strengthen border security. The deal, described as a “world first,” is part of a larger effort to address organized crime between the two countries. Starmer’s government is taking proactive steps to address the challenges posed by high levels of immigration and maintain border security.
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