Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled new immigration rules aimed at cutting Britain’s net migration figures. The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference on Monday (May 12) that he wants levels to fall, but he refused to set a target. Net migration – the difference between the number of people entering the UK and the number of those leaving – stood at 728,000 in the year to mid-2024. He said the UK is at risk of becoming “an island of strangers”, during a speech broadcast from inside No.10.

Sir Keir said he wanted immigration levels to have fallen by the end of the current Parliament. He announced fresh proposals detailed in a White Paper policy document set out by the Government. Echoing a Brexit slogan, the Prime Minister said his Labour Government would “take back control of our borders”. But critics have questioned Sir Keir’s commitment to reducing levels based on past comments. Reform UK leader responded simply by claiming 250 “young men” had already crossed the Channel by the time of the Downing Street announcement.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claimed Labour doesn’t believe in secure borders. She said: “Keir Starmer once called all immigration laws racist. So why would anyone believe he actually wants to bring immigration down?” It appeared to be a reference to a book the PM wrote in the 1980s in which he claimed racism permeated “all immigration law”.

Here, the Express outlines the new rules Sir Keir wants to bring in. The new measures are focused on bringing down levels of legal migration.

Under the White Paper proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before they are able to apply for citizenship, but so-called “high-contributing” individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.

Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.

Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the English language.

Meanwhile, skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and recruitment for jobs with skills shortages will be subject to tighter restrictions.

Some of the key proposals in the immigration White Paper:

– The new system will end automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living here for five years, with migrants instead required to spend a decade in the UK before applying to stay. Workers who significantly contribute to society, such as nurses, doctors and engineers, could be fast-tracked.

– Migrants will be required to display a higher standard of English across all immigration routes, including, for the first time, their adult dependents.

– An end to the international recruitment of care workers, with the Home Office arguing there are 40,000 potential members of staff who were originally brought over by “rogue” providers and are now able to take up jobs in the sector, while homegrown workers are trained up.

– The Home Office will be notified of all offences committed by foreign criminals, rather than just those which result in prison terms, with wider powers to deport offenders and cancel visas.

– Changes to the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights in an attempt to reduce the number of people claiming “exceptional circumstances” over the right to family life in order to remain in the UK.

– The immigration skills charge, paid by firms sponsoring a migrant worker, will be hiked by 32%.

– Skills thresholds for work visas will be returned to degree level – reversing a system that saw the proportion of lower-skilled visas issued increase between 2021 and 2024.

– For occupations below this level, access to the immigration system will be strictly time-limited and based on evidence of shortages in the supply of labour.

– A “limited pool” of refugees and displaced people recognised by the United Nations’ agency responsible will be eligible to apply for jobs through existing skilled-worker routes.

– The tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students will be made stricter.

– The ability for graduates to remain in the UK after their studies will be cut from two years to 18 months.