Labour‘s plan to tackle spiralling immigration was last night dismissed as ‘laughable’ for not containing a cap on numbers.
Sir Keir Starmer‘s pledge to cut migration will be unveiled in full today, but critics immediately questioned how he would measure its success.
The Prime Minister will vow that ‘migration numbers will fall’. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the plan would mean a ‘substantial’ drop on last year’s net migration figure of 728,000, but refused to put a cap on numbers, saying it was a ‘failed approach’.
Today’s announcement comes less than a fortnight after Reform UK rode a wave of rising public anger on immigration to triumph in the local elections, delivering a string of damaging defeats to Labour.
Sir Keir will today talk about overhauling the system and making those who come to Britain earn the right to stay. But critics said the plans were nothing new and questioned Labour’s appetite to implement them.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the failure to impose a cap on numbers was ‘laughable’. He told the Mail: ‘Labour won’t set a migration target because they know they’d blow it.
‘When it comes to immigration, Starmer doesn’t back workers, he backs down.
‘Starmer is the same man who wrote letters protesting against deporting dangerous foreign criminals and has overseen the worst-ever start to a year for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.’
The Prime Minister will vow that ‘migration numbers will fall’ while the Home Secretary (right) said the plan would mean a ‘substantial’ drop on last year’s net migration figure of 728,000
Labour’s plan to tackle spiralling immigration was last night dismissed as ‘laughable’ for not containing a cap on numbers
A tweet by the Prime Minister yesterday, in which he said ‘British workers – I’ve got your back’ was also mocked given that, just last month, his party increased National Insurance contributions for businesses, leading many to cut jobs while others have slowed or stopped hiring.
Under today’s proposals, migrants will be required to spend a decade in the UK before they can apply for citizenship and will need to have a good grasp of English.
The White Paper will also attempt to end the scandal of failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals using human rights laws to block deportation. Ministers are expected to change the law to constrain judges’ interpretation of elements of the European Convention on Human Rights. They will target Article 8, which protects the right to a family life and is often used by lawyers to block removal on spurious reasoning.
But ministers faced a backlash from the care sector yesterday, with a warning of possible collapse, after Ms Cooper said she would ban recruiting from overseas, while demanding companies train British workers. The number of people claiming asylum climbed from 91,811 in 2023 to a record 108,138 last year. More than 11,500 people have crossed the Channel in small boats this year – also a record.
The Office for National Statistics this year projected that net international migration will average 340,000 from 2028, up from previous suggestions of 315,000.
But Labour would not promise to get anywhere near that. Ms Cooper told Sky News: ‘We’re not going to take that really failed approach [with a cap], because I think what we need to do is rebuild credibility and trust in the whole system.’
At a press conference today, the Prime Minister is expected to say: ‘For years we have had a system that encourages businesses to bring in lower-paid workers, rather than invest in our young people.
‘That is the Britain this broken system has created. Every area of the immigration system, including work, family and study, will be tightened up so we have more control. Enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall.
Today’s announcement comes less than a fortnight after Reform UK rode a wave of rising public anger on immigration to triumph in the local elections
‘This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right.
‘And when people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language. Lower net migration, higher skills and backing British workers – that is what this White Paper will deliver.’
The long-awaited White Paper is an attempt to meet Labour’s manifesto pledge of significantly reducing net migration.
No 10 has denied that the announcement is a kneejerk reaction to Labour’s losses at the local elections, which were blamed on a failure to tackle immigration, along with its axing of the winter fuel allowance.
The Home Office will also be informed of all foreign nationals convicted of offences, which officials say will make it easier to remove people who commit offences, The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday.
