The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has accused the Tories of using Brexit to transform the UK into a "one nation experiment in open borders." This comes after new record-high net migration figures were released, showing a total of 906,000 people entering the UK minus those leaving in the year ending June 2023.
New White Paper to Slash Numbers and Overhaul Points-Based System
Sir Keir Starmer addressed the issue in an emergency press conference, placing the blame squarely on the Conservative Party for the surge in migration. He promised to release a new white paper "imminently" to reduce immigration numbers, revamp the Points-Based System, and reduce sectors' reliance on cheap overseas workers.
"Brexit Used to Liberalise Immigration Policies"
The Prime Minister emphasized that the significant increase in migration was not a result of chance or global trends but a deliberate policy choice. He stated, "Brexit was used for that purpose, to turn Britain into a one nation experiment in open borders."
Cracking Down on Visa Abuse and Malpractice
Sir Keir Starmer outlined the government's plan to address the issue, including a review by the Migration Advisory Committee and reforms to the Points-Based System to prioritize training local workers. He also vowed to crack down on abuse of visa routes and enforce rules to prevent malpractice in the labor market.
