UK Reveals New Measures for 'Biggest-Ever' Migration Cut

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Facts

  • UK Home Secretary James Cleverly announced new measures intended to reduce immigration by 300K on Monday after revised government figures increased 2022's net migration statistic to 745K in November.1
  • Starting in Spring 2024, the threshold for a skilled worker visa will increase from £26.2K ($32.9K) to £38.7K ($48.7K), while the minimum income for a migrant on a family visa to be accompanied by a spouse or dependent has also risen to £38.7K from £18.6K ($23.4K).2
  • Overseas care workers will no longer be eligible to bring family dependents to the UK, the Migration Advisory Committee will be asked to review the graduate student visa, and the 20% discount on the minimum salary for work visas in occupations with shortages will also be scrapped.3
  • Net migration stood at 672K in the year to June 2023, with family-related visas more than doubling during the same period to around 75.7K. Meanwhile, 33% of non-EU residents arrived for work, 39% to study, and 9% for humanitarian reasons.4
  • Cleverly stated that the new restrictions would lead to the 'biggest ever reduction' in migration to the UK, as he claimed that there were 'abuses' in the UK's visa system.5
  • Though the Conservative Party hasn't outlined a specific number it aims to reach in its migration goals, the party made the issue a key part of its election manifesto in 2019.1

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Evening Standard, 3Sky News, 4INews and 5ITV.

Narratives

  • Right narrative, as provided by The Telegraph. Although there will be shocks to many sectors of the UK economy, the government had to do something in light of its recent record-breaking border statistics. Restrictions on the dependents of visa holders, for example, have been long overdue. Cleverly and the Home Office must deliver, with the UK's migration a consistent sticking point for the Tory government.
  • Left narrative, as provided by The Big Issue. The government's crackdown on visas will only restrict skilled workers from helping those in need. Immigrants must be celebrated for the work they do rather than vilified as the Conservative Party continues to depict foreign nationals. The scapegoating must stop, or the UK will suffer in the long term.

Predictions