Clash of Policies: Labour and Conservative Parties Unveil Divergent Immigration Strategies Ahead of 2024 General Election

Upcoming general election: Overview of Labour and Conservative stances on immigration

As the general election scheduled for July 4 approaches, the principal political factions have disclosed their respective strategies concerning immigration.

Political correspondent @alixculbertson

Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 8

Immigration has emerged as a central issue for all political parties in the 2024 general election.

On Sunday, the Labour Party unveiled its immigration policy, with Sir Keir Starmer promising to significantly reduce the number of immigrants coming to the UK.

Both groups have committed to reducing the net number of migrants – the difference between arrivals and departures from abroad – yet neither has specified the extent of the reduction.

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Immigration has emerged as a key topic in the UK, capturing attention across the political spectrum, not only within the Conservative ranks but also among Labour members.

Sky News examines the immigration policies of both the Labour Party and the Conservative Party.

Unauthorized migration

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Compact Vess

Both groups have pledged to halt the maritime vessels, including RIBS and dinghies, that traverse the English Channel carrying individuals attempting to enter the UK without official permission.

As of May 28, 2024, migrant crossings have reached a peak of 10,448, surpassing the previous record of 9,326 set in 2022.

Right-leaning Individuals

The Conservative Party has stepped up collaboration with France to intercept small vessels in the Channel prior to their entry into UK territorial waters.

It entered into a pact with the European Union to combat trafficking networks and also struck deals with various nations to enhance deportations and serve as a preventative measure.

Officials have stated that the Rwanda strategy is intended to significantly discourage asylum seekers from traveling to the UK initially.

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Labour intends to redirect funds from the Rwanda initiative towards bolstering enforcement measures.

Early in the election campaign, it unveiled a plan to create a dedicated Border Security Command aimed at targeting criminal groups managing small boat pathways.

They would also enhance security collaboration with the European Union and grant law enforcement greater authority to conduct searches on suspected human traffickers and oversee their financial transactions.

The group expressed its desire to discuss an agreement with the EU to allow the repatriation of asylum seekers back to EU nations.

Exploring Rwanda

Here lies the greatest divergence between the Conservative and Labour parties regarding immigration policy.

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Right-leaning Individuals

The Conservative party has stated that its Rwanda strategy, which has incurred expenses of £310 million, aims to discourage individuals from arriving in the UK via small boats to seek asylum.

In April, the contentious Rwanda Safety legislation was enacted, mandating that individuals who enter the UK unlawfully from a country deemed safe be relocated to Rwanda to seek asylum there.

If their applications are approved, they may receive refugee status and permission to remain in Rwanda. Should their applications be denied, they have the option to apply for residency in Rwanda based on different criteria or pursue asylum in another safe third country.

However, no individual seeking asylum would have the option to reapply for entry into the UK.

No airplanes have departed so far, and Rishi Sunak has acknowledged that none will before the general election.

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Sir Keir Starmer stated that he would revoke the policy and halt all flights if his party were victorious in the upcoming election.

Labour's deputy leader for home affairs, Yvette Cooper, has left open the possibility of handling asylum applications abroad.

Sir Keir mentioned previously that he would consider a system where migrants are handled in a third country, typically one they pass through on their way to their final destination.

Backlog of asylum

The accumulation of unresolved asylum applications increased significantly from 2018 to 2022, although there was a decrease in these numbers starting in 2023.

Right-leaning Individuals

The Conservative Party expanded the team of caseworkers at the Home Office and implemented new procedures to expedite the processing of claims.

Authorities have started accommodating asylum seekers on a sizable barge as a cost-saving measure to avoid the escalating expenses of lodging them in hotels.

The policy regarding Rwanda is designed to eliminate the existing backlog and prevent it from increasing.

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The Labour Party plans to employ an additional 1,000 caseworkers to form a "Returns and Enforcement Unit" aimed at tackling the 40% decrease in asylum removals that has occurred since 2010.

The government plans to hire public officials both within the UK and internationally, with those stationed overseas tasked with arranging repatriation agreements.

The proposed projects would be funded through the cost reductions achieved by eliminating the backlog and discontinuing the practice of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.

A new expedited process for handling asylum applications from recognized safe countries would be implemented, ensuring that these cases are resolved "within weeks".

Regulated entry

Job relocation

The Skilled Worker visa represents the primary pathway for work-based immigration in the UK, requiring individuals to secure a job sponsorship and fulfill specific skill and salary criteria.

Right-leaning Individuals

As of April, the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker visa were revised, with the minimum salary requirement increasing significantly to £38,700 or the prevailing rate for the job, whichever is greater.

Dependants are no longer permitted to accompany social care workers on their visas.

The roster of occupations eligible for sponsorship at a lower salary threshold has been trimmed down, and the required minimum salary to sponsor a spouse or partner for a visa has increased from £18,600 to £29,000.

Employ

On June 2, Sir Keir Starmer unveiled a strategy to reduce net migration by increasing the training of domestic workers and safeguarding employment standards.

He intends to enact legislation that would prohibit companies that typically depend on hiring skilled workers from abroad from continuing this practice.

Labour plans to introduce legislation aimed at increasing the training of domestic workers, reducing the need for businesses to recruit from abroad.

The party has stated it does not intend to amend the current prohibition on health and care workers from bringing their family members to the UK.

Movement of students

Foreign students and their relatives were key drivers in the most significant rise in net migration observed since 2019.

Upon completing their studies, foreign students may remain and seek employment in the UK for a period of two years, or three years if they have earned a PhD, by transitioning to a Graduate Visa.

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Right-leaning individuals

As of January 2024, the UK government has implemented a restriction preventing most students, except those enrolled in postgraduate research programs, from having their family members accompany them to the country.

An evaluation of the Graduate Visa program, permitting international students to reside in the UK for up to three years post-graduation, concluded that it should be maintained, as it plays a crucial role in financing British higher education institutions.

Since the review's publication in May, the government has made no alterations to the regulations.

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The shadow home secretary has stated that the Labour Party plans to maintain the prohibition affecting family members.

The organization has yet to make a statement regarding the review of the Graduate Visa

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What are the positions of other political groups regarding immigration?

Scottish National

The Scottish National Party criticized Labour's proposal to reduce net migration as "harsh," asserting that neither a Labour nor Conservative administration would prioritize Scotland's interests, and accused both of scapegoating migrants for all issues rather than holding the Westminster government accountable.

Advocates are urging for a just and humane asylum and refugee system that allows individuals the opportunity to work and make societal contributions.

The Environmental Party

The Greens advocate for "a borderless world" and maintain that migration should "never be considered a crime under any circumstances."

Democratic Liberals

The Liberal Democrats have charged the Conservatives with ruining the immigration framework and propose to allocate resources towards enhancing staff, training, and technology to combat smuggling, trafficking, and contemporary forms of slavery.

Authorities are considering delegating the authority to issue visas to different agencies and establishing secure and lawful pathways for refugees.

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