Starmer calls Britain’s immigration system “broken,” pledges end to cheap foreign labour dependence and new limits on settlement pathways
May 19, 2025: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signaled a tougher stance on immigration, warning that the government’s crackdown on illegal employment is just the beginning. “If you work here illegally or employ people who do, we’re coming for you,” Starmer posted on X, highlighting that illegal working raids are up by 40%.
If you work here illegally or employ people who do, we’re coming for you.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 18, 2025
Illegal working raids are up 40%. And we won’t stop there.
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Speaking a day earlier, the Labour leader criticised the UK’s historic reliance on low-cost foreign labour, asserting that the country must now invest in its own youth. “For too long, Britain has been addicted to cheap overseas labour, while 1 in 8 young Britons are not in education, employment, or training,” he said. “I’m putting our young people first.”
Labour’s Immigration Overhaul
These remarks align with sweeping reforms outlined in the UK government’s new immigration white paper titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”. The 82-page blueprint focuses on:
- Curbing net migration, which surged from 224,000 in 2019 to 906,000 in 2023.
- Phasing out foreign care workers and bolstering domestic hiring.
- Tightening visa regulations, especially for health and care workers.
- Extending the minimum stay to 10 years before migrants can apply for permanent residence, up from the current five years.
- Introducing stricter English proficiency requirements for both primary visa holders and their dependants.
Indian Workers and the Care Sector
According to the UK Home Office, 140,000 health and care visas were issued in 2023 — 39,000 of which went to Indian nationals. While these workers helped alleviate severe staffing shortages in the healthcare sector, authorities have raised concerns over exploitation and visa system vulnerabilities.
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The proposed reforms aim to restructure the UK’s immigration framework, which Starmer described as “broken,” and reduce the scope for abuse while transitioning towards a more sustainable, domestically driven labour market.
The shift also reflects Starmer’s broader political strategy to address growing public pressure around immigration control, and distance Labour from its historically more liberal stance.
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UK immigration crackdown, Keir Starmer immigration policy, UK foreign labour, UK illegal workers, Labour government immigration, Indian visa UK, health care visas UK, UK settlement rule changes, UK immigration white paper, UK net migration