Sir Keir Starmer announces plans to reduce legal migration

Labor has announced plans to reduce net migration – with Sir Keir Starmer accusing the Tories of “repeatedly breaking promises” to reduce the figure.

This is another attempt at The Labor Party to please conservative voters.

Figures released after Rishi Sunak called the general election show a net 685,000 people arrived in the UK last year, compared to a record 764,000 in 2022.

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The 2023 figure is still three times higher than that of 2019, during the last elections. The Conservatives had promised in their manifesto that year to reduce net migration.

In 2012, when the Office for National Statistics data begins, net migration stood at just under 200,000 people.

Mr Keir said he wanted to see any government he led ban “practices employed by companies that exploit the migration system by illegally reducing working conditions.”

Tonight’s announcement reflects policies proposed by Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper in November last year, and some have similarities with the Government’s current aims.

Sir Keir added: “Under Labor, Britain will be less dependent on migration by training more British workers.

“The Conservatives have repeatedly broken promises to reduce net migration. Since 2010, they have issued four manifestos promising to reduce net migration.”

The Labor leader said he wanted to force parts of Whitehall to cooperate so that “migration triggers a plan to train British workers and improve employment”.

Employment sectors such as health and construction, which rely on migration to fill “skills gaps”, will be required to develop workforce plans, with a further commitment to reforming the migration system based on points.

The objective, according to the Labor Party, is to “develop vocational training rather than looking abroad”.

One of the commitments is to prohibit employers and agencies that violate labor laws from hiring workers abroad.

Another solution is to end “workplace exploitation” of foreign workers that serves to reduce wages.

Some Conservative Party members have claimed that Labor is rebranding policies already adopted by the government.

The government previously pledged to increase the salary threshold required to obtain a visa, and pledged to remove “price reductions for foreign labor shortages” by removing discounts on visa-related salary requirements for people working in sectors with staff shortages.

Employers seeking to be included on the shortage occupation list must demonstrate that they also train domestic workers.

Conservative candidate Jonathan Gullis tweeted that “no one is buying” Sir Keir’s plans.

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A spokesperson for Reform UK, which campaigns intensively to reduce immigration, said: “Sir Keir’s first suggestion is to take legal action against a law that already exists regarding illegal underpayment. minimum wage, the other is wishful thinking.

“The union offer is nothing new and will make no difference. If you want to make a change, vote for reform to freeze immigration.”