Rishi Sunak Vows to Impose Annual Migration Cap
Rishi Sunak has pledged that an annual migration cap will be imposed if the Tories are re-elected, aiming to address the issue of high net arrivals in the UK. The Prime Minister has announced plans for a fixed limit following a record 685,000 net arrivals last year.
Path to Sustainable Levels
Although the exact figure for the migration cap has not been specified, Rishi Sunak will task the Migration Advisory Committee with recommending how to bring net immigration back to what he calls 'sustainable levels'. This move is seen as a strategic response to competition from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Labour’s commitment to reducing arrivals.
Further Actions by Mr. Sunak
Mr. Sunak has emphasized the need for decisive action to control immigration levels. He highlighted the government's efforts to reduce the number of people entering the country and expressed concerns about current migration levels still being too high. The aim is to combat illegal immigration and establish a legal cap on numbers, distinguishing the Tories from their political counterparts.
Tory MPs Push for Strict Measures
Many Conservative MPs have advocated for a firm annual cap on net migration, with Immigration minister Robert Jenrick leading calls for an "Australia-style" limit. In recent measures, Mr. Sunak has restricted care workers from bringing their families, set a minimum salary requirement for skilled worker visas at £38,000, and prevented postgraduate students from bringing dependents.
Forecasted Migration Trends
Statistics project that annual net migration will stabilize around 315,000 by 2028, reflecting the government's efforts to manage and regulate immigration levels in the coming years.
