In response to mounting pressure from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has announced a series of stringent measures aimed at overhauling the UK’s immigration system. The forthcoming legislation, set to be detailed on Monday, includes:
Extended Residency Requirement: The period required for immigrants to qualify for settlement and citizenship will increase from five to ten years, with exceptions for highly skilled workers such as doctors, engineers, and AI specialists, who will be fast-tracked.
Skilled Worker Visa Restrictions: Future skilled worker visas will be limited to graduate-level roles, and care sector firms will be prohibited from recruiting internationally.
Enhanced English Language Requirements: All adult dependents of migrants will be required to demonstrate a basic understanding of English to aid in integration and reduce potential exploitation.
- Welfare Eligibility: Migrants on visas will remain ineligible for welfare benefits and social housing.
These measures are a direct response to the surge in net migration, which reached 906,000 in the year to June 2023, and the growing influence of Reform UK, which gained traction in recent local elections. While the government asserts that these reforms will provide greater control and enforcement over immigration, business groups have expressed concerns that the restrictions may exacerbate labor shortages and deter investment in the UK.
Source: Reuters
