London (AP) – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to announce new measures on immigration on Monday, addressing a long-standing challenge that has given rise to anti-immigrant sentiments and political shifts in the country. Starmer, who leads the center-left Labour Party, is responding to public frustrations over immigration levels impacting public services and ethnic tensions. The proposed changes aim to bring an end to what is described as Britain’s “failed experiment in open borders,” following recent electoral gains by Reform UK on the immigration issue.
The upcoming reforms will encompass tightening regulations across various aspects of the immigration system, with a focus on control, selectivity, and fairness. The issue of immigration has been prominent in the UK since 2004, particularly with the expansion of the European Union to Eastern Europe. Despite efforts by past governments, including setting targets to reduce net migration, the numbers have remained high, fueling concerns about border control.
Recent attention has been drawn to illegal migration, exemplified by the arrival of thousands of migrants through the English Channel on unsafe boats. While annual net migration figures have shown a slight decrease, they still exceed previous targets. The government’s intention is to implement policies that restrict visas for lower-skilled workers, resulting in a reduction of 50,000 such visas next year. Both the Labour and Conservative parties acknowledge the need for reforms in immigration policies but have differing views on the extent of the changes required.
“Parliament voted in favor of a proposal to implement an annual cap on migration set by Parliament itself to enhance democratic accountability, as the current numbers were excessively high,” he stated.
