Labour Targets Migration Reform: Starmer Promises to Reduce Numbers and Boost UK Worker Training Amid General Election Campaign

Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled proposals to reduce lawful immigration. Statistics released following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's declaration of a general election revealed that 685,000 individuals settled in the UK this past year, a decrease from the previous record of 764,000 in 2022.

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Sunday, June 2, 2024, 7:

The Labour Party has unveiled its strategy to decrease net migration, with Sir Keir Starmer criticizing the Conservative Party for consistently failing to fulfill their commitments to reduce these numbers.

This represents a further effort by the Labour Party to attract supporters from the Conservative base.

Statistics released following Rishi Sunak's announcement of a general election revealed that 685,000 individuals migrated to the UK last year, a decrease from the peak of 764,000 in 2022.

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In 2023, the statistic remains triple that of 2019, the year of the previous election. During that time, the Conservatives had pledged in their platform to reduce net migration.

In 2012, according to the initial figures from the Office for National Statistics, net migration was slightly below 200,000.

Sir Keir expressed his intention to prohibit "the tactics used by companies that take advantage of the migration system to unlawfully degrade labor standards" should he come into power.

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This evening's declaration reflects initiatives previously suggested by the opposition's shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, in November of the preceding year, and they share aspects with existing governmental goals.

Sir Keir stated, "Under Labour, Britain will depend less on migration by focusing on training more UK workers.

The Conservative Party has consistently failed to fulfill their pledges to reduce net migration. Since 2010, they have released four different manifestos, each promising to decrease net migration.

The leader of the Labour Party has expressed his intention to mandate certain sectors of the government to collaborate in a way that enables immigration to initiate strategies for training British workers and enhancing employment opportunities.

Industries such as healthcare and construction, which have depended on migrants to address shortages in skilled labor, will now be required to create workforce strategies. Additionally, there is a commitment to overhaul the points-based immigration system.

Labour's goal is to "boost domestic skills training instead of relying on international talent."

The commitment includes prohibiting employers and agencies that violate employment regulations from employing workers from abroad.

One approach is to halt the "employment abuse" of international workers who are employed to depress salaries.

Members of the Conservative Party have accused Labour of repackaging initiatives that the government has previously implemented.

The government had earlier committed to raising the minimum salary level necessary for visa eligibility and promised to eliminate the discounted visa salary thresholds for jobs in sectors experiencing personnel shortages, aiming to reduce reliance on lower-cost foreign workers.

Companies aiming to be included on the shortage occupation list must demonstrate their commitment to training local employees.

Conservative representative Jonathan Gullis posted on Twitter, dismissing Sir Keir's proposals as lacking credibility.

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A representative from Reform UK, a party actively advocating for lower immigration levels, commented: "Sir Keir's initial proposal is simply to enforce an existing law against underpaying workers below the minimum wage, while his other idea is merely an idealistic hope.

"Labour's proposal is not innovative and won't bring about any change. For real transformation, support Reform to halt immigration."

In an effort to boost the availability of GP consultations, the UK government has committed to investing £1 billion annually.

The Conservative Party has pledged to construct additional GP offices and community diagnostic facilities should they secure another term in office.

The political group plans to construct 100 new general practitioner offices and upgrade an additional 150.

In reaction, the Labour Party has criticized the government for failing to fulfill their earlier commitment to increase the number of GPs, describing the new vow as a "hollow promise."

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