Labour Wins the Election, What's Next for Immigration?

The Labour Party will reform the points-based immigration system so that it is fair and properly managed, with appropriate restrictions on visas, and by linking immigration and skills policy, according to its manifesto

Britain’s Labour Party, which won the July 4 general elections, will "properly" control and manage immigration as it has vowed to reduce the number of people coming to live in the United Kingdom from near record levels, its election manifesto says.

The section on immigration in the Labour Party manifesto appears in the chapter `Kickstart Economic Growth,’ probably emphasising the important role immigration plays in the U.K.’s national performance.

"People who have come to the U.K. to work make a substantial contribution to our economy, our public services, and our communities," the manifesto says. "But under the Conservatives, our economy has become overly dependent on workers from abroad to fill skills shortages."

Net migration, the number of people immigrating to the U.K. minus those emigrating, climbed to a record 764,000 in 2022, about three times the annual average before the pandemic. Net migration fell 10 percent in 2023 to 685,000, the Office of National Statistics said last month, but was still well above pre-pandemic levels.

The number of immigrants coming to the U.K. for work-related reasons from non-European Union countries jumped 53 percent last year, replacing study as the main reason for long-term migration, ONS said. Almost half of those immigrating for work-related reasons came from India or Nigeria, most commonly in the health and social care sectors.

Labour’s manifesto says the party will reform the points-based immigration system so that it is fair and properly managed, with appropriate restrictions on visas, and by linking immigration and skills policy.

The Labour Party will not tolerate employers or recruitment agencies abusing the visa system and not stand for breaches of employment law. Employers who flout the rules will be barred from hiring workers from abroad, according to the manifesto.

These statements suggest immigration regulations would probably be tightened further in the months to come, so if you are keen on immigrating to the U.K. it would be best not to delay.

The Conservative government has said that immigration numbers will start falling once a series of measures announced in December start to take effect.

They have included scrapping dependant visas for care workers, increasing the threshold salary to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa to £38,700 from £26,200 and disallowing foreign students not involved in research to bring in dependants from January 1, 2024. All of this should help to cut net migration by about 300,000 a year.

Labour’s manifesto says that Conservative policy is incoherent, with decisions on migration, skills and sectoral pay determined in isolation. Labour will bring joined-up thinking, ensuring that migration to address skills shortages triggers a plan to upskill workers and improve working conditions in the U.K.

"We will strengthen the Migration Advisory Committee, and establish a framework for joint working with skills bodies across the U.K.", said the Industrial Strategy Council and the Department for Work and Pensions. "We will end the long-term reliance on overseas workers in some parts of the economy by bringing in workforce and training plans for sectors such as health and social care, and construction."

"The days of a sector languishing endlessly on immigration shortage lists with no action to train up workers will come to an end."

If you are considering applying for a visa for the U.K. it might be sensible to act sooner rather than later. There is no knowing how these prospective changes might impact you. One thing is pretty certain: that getting into the U.K. and achieving permanent residency will not get any easier.