Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has announced a pledge to reduce the UK's net migration figure, which currently stands at 685,000. During a statement on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, Starmer critiqued the Conservative government's handling of immigration and emphasized the need to train more Britons to fill job vacancies traditionally occupied by foreign workers. However, business groups and sectors such as food production have expressed concerns regarding this proposal.
Matthew Percival from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) highlighted the necessity of work visas to address skill shortages and called for credible plans from all political parties to support business growth. Jane Gratton of the British Chamber of Commerce acknowledged the need for clarity on Labour’s system to meet urgent skill requirements, as businesses currently struggle to fill approximately 900,000 job vacancies.
Neil Carberry, chief executive of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, warned that the policy might adversely affect Labour's goal of increasing economic growth by restricting businesses' access to workers. The British Meat Processors Association emphasized the continued necessity for trained migrant workers to fill skill gaps within the industry.
Labour's plan involves legislating to link the immigration system to training, requiring businesses applying for foreign worker visas to train Britons for those roles. The Migration Advisory Committee, Industrial Strategy Council, and Skills England are slated to collaborate on implementing this strategy.
Gary Smith of the GMB union voiced concerns about the potential divisiveness of migration policies and stressed the need for migrant workers in the UK economy.
In parallel, Nigel Farage has returned as leader of the Reform UK party, signaling a strong stance against high immigration levels and vowing to achieve zero net migration. This move has intensified the political debate on immigration as the general election approaches. Home Secretary James Cleverly criticized Farage’s position and warned that voting for Reform UK could help Labour win the election, while Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party faces pressure to lower immigration numbers ahead of the general election on July 4.