Conservatives closing the gap on reform

Agreed.
Eurgh. A nice reminder to poorer dc that Erasmus is not for them.

Nothing to do with class or snobbery (although, on that, I'm pretty sure that those who adhere to the left of the political spectrum not only can be working class but have been historically defined by it).

The post I refer to isn't anti-working class, as you have mistakenly supposed; it is a direct result to the imbecility of the original poster; a humourous, witty application of common sense to an absurdly close-minded comment.
The fact you have immediately interpreted as an attack on the working class by the left, I fear, speaks volumes.

Typical smug snobbery. The left looking down on the working classes. I would have kept quiet about that one, PP....

Typical smug snobbery. The left looking down on the working classes. I would have kept quiet about that one, PP....

Rejoining Erasmus will cost a bomb. There is a reasonable argument that we could have supported study abroad more cost effectively.

Typical smug snobbery. The left looking down on the working classes. I would have kept quiet about that one, PP....

And, more recently, Labour have been instrumental in the UK rejoining the Erasmus program.

I did see a rather apt online comment about that. A DM-reading Brexiteer foolishly posted that rejoning Eramus was a "betrayl [sic] of brexit", only to be further humiliated by the next poster who gently pointed out "Oh there's no need to worry; Erasmus is all about education, so it won't affect you in the least".

And, more recently, Labour have been instrumental in the UK rejoining the Erasmus program.

I did see a rather apt online comment about that. A DM-reading Brexiteer foolishly posted that rejoning Eramus was a "betrayl [sic] of brexit", only to be further humiliated by the next poster who gently pointed out "Oh there's no need to worry; Erasmus is all about education, so it won't affect you in the least".

Again: what have Labour introduced?

Key Changes (July - December 2025)
Skilled Worker Route:
Higher Skill Level: Increased required skill level for most jobs from RQF Level 3 (A-Level) to RQF Level 6 (Graduate level).

Salary Thresholds: Increased salary requirements for Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up visas.

Care Workers: Stopped new Health & Care Worker visa applications for overseas social care workers (SOC codes 6135, 6136) from July 2025.

Immigration Salary List (ISL) & Temporary Shortage List (TSL): Introduced these for some jobs below degree level, but with no dependants allowed for TSL roles.

Family & Private Life (Appendix FM):
New Suitability Rules: Stricter 'good character' requirements, including mandatory refusal for serious criminal convictions (12+ months prison) and tougher rules for immigration breaches.

Financial/Sponsorship Costs:
Increased Immigration Skills Charge (ISC):Raised for sponsors from December 2025.

Illegal Working:
Expanded rules to cover contractors and gig workers.

Upcoming (Early 2026)
English Language Requirement: Increased to B2 (Upper Intermediate) level for most work-related visas from January 8, 2026, including Skilled Worker and Scale-up routes, impacting dependants too.

Overall Goal
These changes stem from the May 2025 White Paper, "Restoring Control," aiming to significantly reduce net migration and tighten eligibility for legal routes, according to DLA Piper and Richmond Chambers.

Its fallen due to Tory policies though.

Can't argue with facts or figures!

Immigration has fallen under Labour, not the Tories.

Again: what have Labour introduced?

Key Changes (July - December 2025)
Skilled Worker Route:
Higher Skill Level: Increased required skill level for most jobs from RQF Level 3 (A-Level) to RQF Level 6 (Graduate level).

Salary Thresholds: Increased salary requirements for Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility, and Scale-up visas.

Care Workers: Stopped new Health & Care Worker visa applications for overseas social care workers (SOC codes 6135, 6136) from July 2025.

Immigration Salary List (ISL) & Temporary Shortage List (TSL): Introduced these for some jobs below degree level, but with no dependants allowed for TSL roles.

Family & Private Life (Appendix FM):
New Suitability Rules: Stricter 'good character' requirements, including mandatory refusal for serious criminal convictions (12+ months prison) and tougher rules for immigration breaches.

Financial/Sponsorship Costs:
Increased Immigration Skills Charge (ISC):Raised for sponsors from December 2025.

Illegal Working:
Expanded rules to cover contractors and gig workers.

Upcoming (Early 2026)
English Language Requirement: Increased to B2 (Upper Intermediate) level for most work-related visas from January 8, 2026, including Skilled Worker and Scale-up routes, impacting dependants too.

Overall Goal
These changes stem from the May 2025 White Paper, "Restoring Control," aiming to significantly reduce net migration and tighten eligibility for legal routes, according to DLA Piper and Richmond Chambers.

Conservative legislation:

• Ban on dependants for care workers: Took effect on March 11, 2024.
• Skilled Worker minimum salary increased: The minimum salary threshold rose to over £30,000 (with some exceptions) and generally to £38,700 for new applicants, effective April 4, 2024.
• Family visa minimum income threshold raised: The minimum income required to sponsor a family member increased to £29,000 on April 11, 2024
• Restrictions on student dependants: Rules preventing most international students from bringing family members to the UK were announced in May 2023 and came into force at the start of 2024.

Very clearly matches the graph....

Again: what have Labour introduced?

Conservative legislation:

• Ban on dependants for care workers: Took effect on March 11, 2024.
• Skilled Worker minimum salary increased: The minimum salary threshold rose to over £30,000 (with some exceptions) and generally to £38,700 for new applicants, effective April 4, 2024.
• Family visa minimum income threshold raised: The minimum income required to sponsor a family member increased to £29,000 on April 11, 2024
• Restrictions on student dependants: Rules preventing most international students from bringing family members to the UK were announced in May 2023 and came into force at the start of 2024.

Very clearly matches the graph....

Again: what have Labour introduced?

The rapid rise in immigration after 2020 took everyone by surprise. It was definitely the biggest mistake of the last Conservative government. Sunak acted fast to stem it with his changes to visas and dependents - so that huge surge ended within a few years, and came to about 4 million total

Uh?? Talk about re writing history!

It was the Tories visa policies that caused an additional 4m people to come to the country.
Totally predictable after Brexit, in deed it was even planned for.

"Acted fast" FFS!!

He took 4 years to take any action at all but you re quick enough to attack Labour after just a few months (You ve been at them over this for many months)

Is there anything that you wont hold the previous Government responsible for?

An excess of low-skilled migrants are a concern regardless of route of entry - and regardless of how we justify it - because they cost the UK an average of £200k net each over their lifetime. That cost skews to the future, so we're borrowing yet more for our children to pay back (and ourselves as pensioners). Imagine how much worse the cost of living crisis will be when we're having to pay this short-term productivity back, instead of borrowing it from the future as we currently are!

Migrants bringing values which conflict with ours - and not integrating - is also always a concern for social cohesion. This will get worse as our society comes under increasing economic strain.

The rapid rise in immigration after 2020 took everyone by surprise. It was definitely the biggest mistake of the last Conservative government. Sunak acted fast to stem it with his changes to visas and dependents - so that huge surge ended within a few years, and came to about 4 million total.

Labour have talked the talk about immigration, but I don't think they've implemented any new policies yet have they? I certainly can't think of any (which have actually been implemented) so do please say what they are if I've missed them.

I think the thing to be watching out for now will be emigration, especially of productive young UK-born people. It's worsening as our economy fares badly, especially with rising youth unemployment and lack of opportunities for graduates - which are very much influenced by government economic policy. That is as much of a negative - both economically and for social cohesion - as unskilled immigration.

Net migration is far too crude a measure. We need to be looking at actual immigration rather than net (and particularly broken down by skill level and how well they integrate - Denmark leads the way here) and separately looking at outward emigration (broken down by place of birth, age and skill level).

There's a huge challenge ahead of us. I really do wish that I believed Labour was up to it - 3 years time is 3 years too late.

An excess of low-skilled migrants are a concern regardless of route of entry - and regardless of how we justify it - because they cost the UK an average of £200k net each over their lifetime. That cost skews to the future, so we're borrowing yet more for our children to pay back (and ourselves as pensioners). Imagine how much worse the cost of living crisis will be when we're having to pay this short-term productivity back, instead of borrowing it from the future as we currently are!

Migrants bringing values which conflict with ours - and not integrating - is also always a concern for social cohesion. This will get worse as our society comes under increasing economic strain.

The rapid rise in immigration after 2020 took everyone by surprise. It was definitely the biggest mistake of the last Conservative government. Sunak acted fast to stem it with his changes to visas and dependents - so that huge surge ended within a few years, and came to about 4 million total.

Labour have talked the talk about immigration, but I don't think they've implemented any new policies yet have they? I certainly can't think of any (which have actually been implemented) so do please say what they are if I've missed them.

I think the thing to be watching out for now will be emigration, especially of productive young UK-born people. It's worsening as our economy fares badly, especially with rising youth unemployment and lack of opportunities for graduates - which are very much influenced by government economic policy. That is as much of a negative - both economically and for social cohesion - as unskilled immigration.

Net migration is far too crude a measure. We need to be looking at actual immigration rather than net (and particularly broken down by skill level and how well they integrate - Denmark leads the way here) and separately looking at outward emigration (broken down by place of birth, age and skill level).

There's a huge challenge ahead of us. I really do wish that I believed Labour was up to it - 3 years time is 3 years too late.

the number of of boat migrants is up on last year, these are the main concern because we’ve no idea who they are.

@Snowonground We had a defendable border, until Farage and Brexit came along.
We have a UK border in France, we policed that well, now we have the French apparently powerless to stop crossing and out of the EU, no means to address the issues.

I suspect that were we still in the EU, we would have joint UK and French forces patrolling the french coast by now.

On "Drastic action" such as?

@Snowonground We had a defendable border, until Farage and Brexit came along.
We have a UK border in France, we policed that well, now we have the French apparently powerless to stop crossing and out of the EU, no means to address the issues.

I suspect that were we still in the EU, we would have joint UK and French forces patrolling the french coast by now.

On "Drastic action" such as?