LONDON

Britain’s prime minister pledged Monday to "significantly reduce" net migration, noting that every area of the current immigration system would be tightened.

In his speech on the government's plans to reform the UK’s immigration system, Keir Starmer said the government will "finally take back control" of the country's borders.

Starmer noted that net migration reached nearly 1 million people last year, which is equivalent to the population of Birmingham, the second-largest city in the UK, adding "that is not control, it is chaos."

"I believe we need to reduce immigration significantly," he noted.

According to data, more than 24,000 people with no right to be in the UK have been returned since the Labour Party won a majority in the 2024 general election and formed a new government on July 5, 2024.

"As this white paper sets out, every area of the immigration system -- work, family and study -- will be tightened up so we have more control," said Starmer.

The new measures include raising skill requirements to the degree level, English language requirements, and increasing the time it takes to obtain settled status from five to 10 years.

- White paper aims to 'reduce migration, strengthen borders'

In its immigration white paper to reduce migration and strengthen the borders, the government said they set out "radical reforms" to the country's immigration system, restoring control to the borders and reducing record-high levels of net migration

It said that new requirements on employers to boost domestic training will end the reliance on international recruitment, restoring order to a failed system that saw net migration quadruple between 2019 and 2023.

New measures include raising the Skilled Worker threshold by lifting the level for skilled workers back to RQF 6 (Graduate level) and above and salary thresholds will also rise.

According to the plan, the government will end overseas recruitment for social care visas.

On studying, the new plan will strengthen the requirements that all sponsoring institutions must meet in order to recruit international students, as the government wishes to reduce the ability for graduates to remain in the UK after their studies to a period of 18 months.

“We will tackle the over complex family and private life immigration arrangements, where too many cases are treated as ‘exceptional’ rather than having a clear framework," it said.

The government will also apply tighter visa controls, restrictions, requirements or scrutiny to individuals in case they have evidence of abuse, based on a clear assessment of the risks.

The new policy will bring English language requirements across a broader range of immigration routes for both main applicants and their dependents "to ensure a better knowledge of English, including an assessment of improvements over time."

As the prime minister highlighted earlier Monday, the plan will double the standard qualifying period for settlement to 10 years.

The government will "expand the points-based system to both our settlement and citizenship rules, so they are based on contribution to the UK, with further details to be set out to Parliament by the end of the year," it added.