In 2024, the Labour Government’s policy on immigration is focused on striking a balance between controlling immigration numbers and ensuring that the UK remains a welcoming and inclusive society. The government has implemented several measures to achieve this, including tightening border controls, cracking down on illegal immigration, and reforming the asylum system.
One of the key figures in shaping the Labour Government’s policy on immigration in 2024 is the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary is responsible for overseeing immigration policy and ensuring that the government’s approach aligns with its overall goals. The Home Secretary plays a crucial role in crafting immigration legislation and working with other government departments to implement policy changes.
Yvette Cooper, the UK’s New Shadow Home Secretary, recently made significant comments on immigration, highlighting Labour’s approach and critique of the current government’s policies. Cooper emphasied that Labour intends to reduce net migration but has deliberately avoided setting a specific target. She criticised the Conservative government for failing to meet its targets, noting that fluctuating circumstances, like the war in Ukraine, can affect migration numbers unpredictably (The Independent) (LabourList).
Labour plans to tackle the root causes of public anxiety about immigration, such as job competition and wage undercutting. Cooper pointed out the exploitation of migrant workers and promised to enforce the national minimum wage, double fines for law-breaking employers, and crack down on agencies that recruit exclusively from abroad (LabourList).
Regarding asylum seekers, Cooper did not rule out offshore processing but mentioned that Labour would evaluate what works best. This stance is part of a broader strategy to differentiate types of immigration, focusing on stronger controls and effective management, including reintroducing exit checks to enforce visa conditions (The Independent) (The London Economic).
Influential individuals who have contributed to the field of immigration policy in the UK include academic experts, immigration lawyers, and migrant rights activists. These individuals provide valuable insights into the impact of immigration policy on communities and the challenges faced by immigrants in the UK.
From a positive perspective, the Labour Government’s policy on immigration in 2024 aims to address the public’s concerns while also upholding the UK’s tradition of being a welcoming and diverse society. By tightening border controls and cracking down on illegal immigration, the government hopes to demonstrate its commitment to managing immigration fairly and transparently.
However, the policy has also faced criticism from some quarters for being too restrictive and lacking compassion towards migrants. Critics argue that the government’s approach could harm vulnerable individuals and families who are seeking refuge in the UK. There are concerns that the government’s emphasis on border control could lead to discrimination and exclusion of certain groups of migrants.
Looking ahead, it is crucial to consider potential future developments related to the Labour Government’s Policy on UK immigration in 2024. The government will need to monitor the impact of its policy changes on communities and individuals to ensure that they are achieving their intended goals. It is also essential for the government to engage with stakeholders, including migrant communities, advocacy groups, and businesses, to address concerns and make adjustments as needed.
The Labour government’s policy on UK immigration, under the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, emphasizes both border security and humanitarian responsibilities. Key elements of their policy include:
Border Security and Enforcement
: Labour plans to establish a new Border Security Command, enhancing border protection with hundreds of new investigators and intelligence officers. A new returns and enforcement unit with 1,000 additional staff will be set up to expedite the removal of individuals to safe countries (LabourList) (Henry Jackson Society).
International Cooperation
: Labour intends to collaborate with international partners to address the root causes of migration by tackling humanitarian crises that force people to flee their homes (LabourList).
Ending Rwanda Migration Partnership
: Funding for these new measures will be sourced by terminating the current Migration and Economic Development partnership with Rwanda, which Labour considers wasteful (LabourList).
Work Migration
: Labour intends to review the impact of raising the Skilled Worker salary threshold from £26,200 to £38,700 and retain the ban on care workers’ dependants. They plan to integrate the Migration Advisory Committee with bodies responsible for industrial and skills strategy, requiring sectors that rely heavily on Skilled Worker visas to develop “skills improvement plans” for UK-based workers. Employers not complying with employment laws would lose their sponsor licenses (Migration Observatory) (Migration Watch UK).
Student Migration
: Labour will retain the current ban on international students bringing family members. However, they have not yet made a clear statement on the future of the Graduate Route, which allows international students to work in the UK after graduation (Migration Observatory).
Family Migration
: Labour has expressed concerns about the recent increase in the minimum income requirement for British citizens and migrants to bring family members to the UK. The current threshold stands at £29,000, with plans to increase it to £38,700 by early 2025 (LabourList).
Migration Numbers and Targets
: Unlike the previous Conservative government, Labour does not support setting specific net migration targets, as it believes this approach has proven ineffective and undermined public trust. Instead, Labour proposes an annual “immigration budget day” in Parliament to increase transparency and accountability. This would involve reporting on migration flows, policy changes, and plans for managing migration impacts (LabourList).
Human Rights and Integration
: Labour maintains a strong commitment to human rights, including support for the European Court of Human Rights, and emphasizes training and building domestic skills to reduce reliance on overseas labor (Henry Jackson Society).
Asylum System
: Labour’s asylum policy aims to rebuild the system to efficiently process applications and tackle the backlog of asylum seekers housed in hotels. They propose working closely with international partners to address the root causes of migration (The Labour Party) (Migration Watch UK).
- International Cooperation: Labour plans to enhance international cooperation to manage and control migration, focusing on addressing humanitarian crises that drive people to seek asylum in the UK (LabourList) (Migration Watch UK).
By focusing on these areas, Labour aims to create a balanced immigration policy that ensures border security while also fulfilling humanitarian responsibilities and maintaining public trust.
Labour’s policy also emphasizes ending the Conservative’s controversial Rwanda Plan, which they view as ineffective and costly. Instead, they propose a more practical and humane approach to asylum and immigration that ensures strong border security without relying on expensive and largely symbolic measures (The Labour Party) (Migration Watch UK).
