Prime minster to unveil immigration white paper that he claimes will be ‘clean break from past’
The Conservatives have rejected suggestions that Keir Starmer is being tough on immigration. In a statement released overnight in response to the briefing about the white paper plans, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said:
Keir Starmer pretends to be tough, but just weeks ago his MPs voted against our 10-year residency and economic contribution test for indefinite leave to remain. Now he says that immigrants who make no contribution should still be allowed to stay.
He is trying to take steal credit for recent substantial reductions in visa numbers that resulted from Conservative reforms in April 2024.
International recruitment is a lifeline for the homecare sector, enabling us to provide vital support to older and disabled people in their own homes. Care providers are already struggling to recruit within the UK. We are deeply concerned the government has not properly considered what will happen to the millions of people who depend on care at home to live safely and independently.
The big problem that we would have is if we weren’t able to recruit any overseas staff because recruiting locally is very, very difficult.
We try all the time to recruit locally. We put our wages up, we still don’t get applicants.
