Starmer Unveils Plan to Reduce Net Migration, Sparking Criticism from Opponents

May 13, 2025 | London

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer has outlined plans to cut net migration by the end of this parliamentary session, a decision that will potentially impact many individuals who wish to call the UK home. This is the first significant move in years to reform the nation’s immigration system.

In a statement, Prime Minister Starmer said that the UK’s immigration policies needed to change because they had not resulted in the economic growth that some people had expected. He dismissed the idea that more migration leads to better growth, saying, “The theory that higher migration numbers lead to growth has been tested in the last four years,” and explained that there was no evidence to support that claim.

Starmer also outlined new rules for people hoping to become British citizens. Under the new policy, those who wish to gain British citizenship will have to live in the UK for twice as long as before. He explained that the goal was not just to change immigration rules, but to focus on improving skills and training in the UK as part of a broader plan to stimulate economic growth. According to him, the UK had underinvested in skills and needed a new approach.

While Starmer did not give details on whether net migration would decrease every year until the next general election, he confirmed that net migration would be reduced by the end of this parliament. But he also said that the number of individuals permitted to enter the UK would not be capped, with some room for manoeuvre in the system.

One of the most significant reasons why Starmer decided to restrict immigration is because he is worried about the UK becoming an “island of strangers.” He termed his new immigration policy as an integral component of his agenda to take back control of the country’s borders and to shut what he termed a “squalid chapter” in the politics, economy, and society of the UK. Starmer also referred to the Brexit sentiment of “taking back control,” saying that everyone knew it had to do with immigration.

Starmer also criticized the previous government, accusing them of making false promises about reducing immigration. He pointed out that while the government claimed to be working on cutting immigration between 2019 and 2023, the actual number of migrants entering the UK had quadrupled during that time.

However, the prime minister’s comments have been met with criticism. Some groups have accused him of using language that is similar to right-wing parties, particularly in his use of the phrase “island of strangers.” The refugee charity Care4Calais strongly condemned Starmer’s remarks, claiming that they could encourage far-right extremists. The charity’s CEO, Steve Smith, said, “This is dangerous language for any prime minister to use,” and called for an apology. He warned that such statements could lead to violence and increase racial tensions in the country, pointing out the danger of inflaming far-right groups and causing harm to vulnerable people, including refugees and survivors of war and slavery.

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