Changes to immigration rules announced by Starmer

[OneAmberFinch]

Full white paper here is extensive and announces changes to all avenues of migration - basically their approach to resolving the issues of massively increased migration from 2019-2023/4.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6821aec3f16c0654b19060ac/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper.pdf

And Starmer's commentary on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ce810e3z6dkt

Handful of headline changes: default timeline to get ILR to go to 10 years instead of 5; abolishing new care worker visas; raising skills threshold for Skilled Workers back up to graduate level; increasing minimum grades required for student visas; various bits and pieces around English language requirements among several other policies

The White Paper has clearly been some time in preparation. It might have been published sooner than otherwise but it's not a knee jerk on account of Reform.

Agree, and it covers a wide amount of ground. Definitely not slapped together since the local elections.

It's probably fair to say that it was written with Reform in mind generally as the writing has been on the wall since the general election, plus lots of coverage in the media on immigration which I feel has really ramped up over the last year or two - perhaps because the right-wing media hasn't had to run cover for the Tories anymore...

I don't think it will make any difference to Reform supporters. They don't seem to be aware of anything the government has done regarding immigration thus far and probably won't take any notice.

Labour are moving further and further to the right and they need to focus on making life better in the UK for everyone, not just one issue.

Does anyone know when the ILR changes will take effect or if they take retrospective? A couple of friends of mine- scientists, tax payers and net contributors- are panicking as they are eligible for ILRs in August. I really dont want them to go back.

Will it make any real difference?

It will make a difference to legal immigrants.

Nothing will change while all the benefits continue to be dished out like confetti.

I doubt it’ll get the votes they want back. But they’re struggling with Reform leading.

How?

10 yrs for ILR. As I said in my first post.
In my industry, there is a massive flight of talent.

I’m interested to know how we are going to fully staff care homes in future? Care companies have sought to recruit overseas because they can’t fill the vacancies otherwise.

In an ever aging population, is this really sensible? A Carer for, for example, elderly dementia patients in a home for people with challenging behaviour is not a glamorous or easy job. Wages are generally NMW or a tiny shade above. Does anyone appreciate how hard it is to fill these jobs?

There is another thread on this. Apparently British people will step up if we increase wages by raising taxes.

I hope so. It is good to see a sensible approach rather than the open borders approach of Johnson and Sunak.

Yes, but does it really make a difference?

Starmer didn’t mention anything about the boat people in his press conference!

You’ll still have open borders. ‘Smash the gangs’ isn’t going anywhere fast.

And this is how you treat a broken leg with a plaster.

Were you expecting him to announce that all immigration to the UK was stopping?

It will to taxes. If you are a legal tax paying talent, the UK seems to be making life difficult for you.

Just saw the " island of strangers" comment. Out reforming Reform.

We can't control our own borders so it's all pointless.

I expected some gang smashing, as promised.

Uncontrolled immigration is a problem.

To whatever government that was voted in.

It has to be addressed. And that has nothing to do with pandering to Reform or potential Reform voters.

My work colleagues will likely leave for Dubai or Singapore or Canada, I guess. They are nearly all immigrants and were already feeling unwelcome. They already pay a huge sum for visas.

But of course no mention of gangs.

He was talking about cutting net migration to the UK.