Keir Starmer’s Controversial Immigration Overhaul: Is the UK Ready for These Tough New Rules?
Keir Starmer is set to announce a major crackdown on immigration, making it harder for people to settle permanently in the UK. Under the new plans, people will need to live in the country for a full decade before they can apply for citizenship, up from the current five-year requirement. However, high-skilled workers such as nurses, doctors, engineers, and AI experts could be fast-tracked for quicker entry, according to No. 10.
As part of the immigration overhaul, the government will tighten English language requirements for all visa routes, and all adult dependents will need to show a basic understanding of the language. The Prime Minister will officially introduce these changes in the long-awaited immigration white paper on Monday, declaring it a “clean break from the past”, reported the BBC.
The government’s push to reduce net migration, which soared to 728,000 in 2024, has become a key focus. This follows years of promises from Tory leaders to reduce the numbers, yet they’ve continued to rise. Labour is also feeling the pressure after Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, made significant gains, including winning power in 10 councils and clinching a by-election win in Labour-held Runcorn and Helsby by just six votes.
However, Starmer’s plans are already drawing criticism, particularly from care providers who argue that banning overseas recruitment will hurt the sector. Under the new rules, foreign workers will need a degree to secure a job in the UK unless they work in critical sectors like IT or construction. Care homes will be forced to recruit UK staff, with a dedicated visa route for overseas workers being shut down.
The Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has also announced plans to reduce the number of lower-skilled visas granted next year, with an estimated 50,000 fewer visas being approved. She acknowledged that the care sector must end its reliance on overseas workers but emphasized that companies will still be able to recruit from a pool of people already in the UK on care visas for jobs that don’t currently exist.
This approach has sparked backlash, with care providers warning that it could worsen staffing shortages. The Homecare Association highlighted that over 130,000 vacancies are currently unfilled, despite the recruitment of more than 185,000 overseas workers in the past few years. Chief Executive Dr Jane Townson called for urgent consultations with the sector, warning that without sufficient staff, the system could collapse.
Others, like Care England’s chief executive Martin Green, labelled the move as “cruel,” accusing the government of abandoning the sector at a time when it’s already struggling. Unison’s Christina McAnea also voiced concerns, urging ministers to focus on fixing social care funding and improving the pay and conditions of care workers rather than making the situation worse.
While Starmer and Cooper argue that the changes will restore control to the UK’s borders and reduce immigration, the debate over how to balance this with the needs of vital sectors like healthcare and social care remains far from settled.
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