Rishi Sunak is facing a backlash from his own ministers after figures revealed that legal migration to the UK is at an all-time high.
The immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, is understood to be pushing for a five-point migration plan that includes proposals to ban foreign social care workers from bringing in any dependants and a cap on the total number of visas for NHS and social care workers.
Other cabinet ministers are said to be demanding a crackdown on visas for overseas workers relocating to the UK to work for the NHS or in the care sector, while the Daily Telegraph says Conservative MPs are demanding “immediate and massive” action.
Official figures published on Thursday showed net migration – the difference between people legally arriving in the country and those emigrating – peaking at 745,000 in the year to December 2022, which was a record high according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data places migration levels at three times higher than before Brexit.
Jenrick’s plan is said to include proposals to scrap the shortage occupation list, a programme that allows foreign workers to be paid 20% below the going rate in roles where there is a shortage of skilled workers.
The government’s migration advisory committee has already recommended the abolition of the list amid fears it is being used to bring cheap foreign labour into the UK.
Calls to curb the number of foreign workers in the NHS and social care are likely to be met with resistance by health officials amid chronic staff shortages across the health and care sector.
The work and pensions secretary said revised figures showing net migration peaked at 745,000 in the year to December 2022 were “unacceptable”.
Speaking to Times Radio, Mel Stride said: “We do accept that these figures are too high, they are unacceptable.
“And that is exactly why we will be coming forward with further approaches to make sure we bring these down.
“One of the things I think is really important in the context of this debate is what is happening in our domestic labour market, because a lot of this migration has been driven by a need for skilled labour in certain sectors.”
Stride pointed to reforms announced in the autumn statement that he said could help back into work some of the 2.5 million people on benefits who have long-term sickness and disabilities. He suggested this could be a way of filling gaps in the UK labour market with domestic workers.
ONS data for the year to June 2023 shows a lower net migration figure of 672,000. Though this was a year-on-year increase of 65,000, it has led to speculation that net migration may be on a downward trend, though the ONS said it was too early to tell.
The increase in net migration in the year to June 2023 was driven by an increase in people and their families arriving for work, notably in NHS and social care roles.
There were 322,000 work-related visas issued for this period, up from 198,000 in the year to June 2022. Nearly two-thirds of work visas went to Indian, Nigerian and Zimbabwean nationals, suggesting non-EU workers are replacing EU workers in sectors of the economy that are struggling to recruit staff since Brexit.
The backbench Tory MP Suella Braverman, who was home secretary for a year before she was sacked earlier this month, said on social media: “Today’s record numbers are a slap in the face to the British public who have voted to control and reduce migration at every opportunity. We must act now to reduce migration to sustainable levels. Brexit gave us the tools. It’s time to use them.”
Braverman’s successor as home secretary, James Cleverly, told the Times: “This figure is not showing a significant increase from last year’s figures and is largely in line with our immigration statistics.”
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
