LogFAQs > #985045492

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-remarks-at-immigration-white-paper-press-conference-12-may-2025

Also, after looking into what Starmer actually said and wants to do:

But at the same time, we do have to ask why parts of our economy seem almost addicted to importing cheap labour rather than investing in the skills of people who are here and want a good job in their community.

Is it fair to young people weighing up their future to miss out on those apprenticeships, to see colleges in their community almost entirely dedicated to one-year courses for overseas students? No, I dont think it is.

So, as this White Paper sets out, every area of the immigration system work, family, and study will be tightened up so we have more control. Skill requirements raised to degree level. English language requirements across all routes including for dependents. The time it takes to acquire settled status extended from five years to ten. And enforcement tougher than ever because fair rules must be followed.

From a base logic, none of this is unfair when you're contending with trying to cultivate domestic skill and talent to be able to compete against cheap immigrant labor.

While I'm not a particular fan of the English requirement, especially for dependents, it does make sense. A better reasoning for an English requirement would be something along the lines of having it so that the immigrants that do gain legal status in the UK are less at risk of being exploited by businesses that would keep them from being able to participate openly and freely in society in the UK. It is a common way that people fall into being human trafficked, though that falls outside the scope of what Starmer's intent is.

You know, this is where the whole debate is skewed, as if some people think controlling immigration is reigning in a sort of natural freedom rather than a basic and reasonable responsibility of government to make choices that work for a nations economy.

This isn't an unfair point. Governments do have a vested interest in making sure immigration policies work and make sense for the realities the country is facing. While I don't fully agree with how many sides want to address immigration in the modern era, acting like it isn't a serious concern will lead to fascists and grifters, like MAGA, gaining stronger and stronger footholds in democracies around the world and lead to the eroding of fundamental human rights.

I would much rather something akin to what Starmer is proposing than what is actively happening within the US regarding 'illegal' immigrants.

This is a topic that has an insane amount of depth and I don't know if CE, or any group really, can have the level of mature and nuanced discussion required without people getting too heated or thinking one or more parties are just point blank racist.