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Labour's Shift on Immigration Sparks Backlash and Policy Reversal-Keir Starmer's Labour government has unveiled a sweeping 69-page white paper, "Restoring Control Over the Immigration System," signaling a dramatic departure from decades of established party policy. This move, aimed at countering Reform UK's growing influence, seeks to forge a direct link between immigration and the UK labor market, prioritizing the development of domestic skills to reduce reliance on foreign workers.
This initiative fundamentally challenges Labour's long-held belief in the economic benefits of immigration. Government insiders now label the previous approach a "failed free-market experiment" that contributed to the political turmoil of the past decade. Starmer's emphasis on foreign workers learning "our language" has drawn comparisons to the populist rhetoric of Nigel Farage, a stark contrast to Labour's past criticisms of such language.
In a striking echo of Farage's 2014 sentiments regarding feeling "awkward" hearing only foreign languages in London, Starmer will announce "an end to Britain's failed experiment in open borders that saw migration soar to 1 million a year." He will assert that immigrants must "commit to integration" and call for stricter government control.
This shift marks a significant policy reversal. Past Labour leaders like Gordon Brown and Ed Miliband faced criticism for advocating "British jobs for British workers" and "controls on immigration," respectively. Now, Starmer's government faces a backlash, particularly regarding its plan to end overseas recruitment for care workers.
Christina McAnea, general secretary of Unison, warns that the "NHS and the care sector would have collapsed long ago without the thousands of workers who’ve come to the UK from overseas." This highlights the significant opposition Starmer's government will face from Labour-supporting unions and other critics as it attempts to reshape the immigration narrative.
The Labour party has historically relied on the support of immigrant communities, and the current policy shift risks alienating a key voter base. The question remains how this policy change will impact Labour's standing with these communities, and if the once reliable voting block will continue to support the party.
The white paper proposes a comprehensive tightening of immigration rules across work, family, and study visas, coupled with stricter enforcement to reduce overall migration numbers. This marks a clear attempt by Labour to reclaim the immigration debate and address public concerns, even at the risk of internal party divisions and external criticism.
