We will create a migration system that is controlled, selective, and fair. A clean break with the past that links access to visas directly to investment in homegrown skills so that if a business wants to bring people in from abroad, they must first invest in Britain. But also, so settlement becomes a privilege that is earned, not a right, easier if you make a contribution, if you work, pay in, and help rebuild our country.
Linking homegrown skills and training with decisions on immigration seems sensible.
Thanks for linking the transcript - the white paper itself is also worth a read.
The analysis of the current position is not the problem, for me. To say ‘sectors of the economy are over-dependent on imported labour at the expense of training British workers’ is debatable, but not heinous. The policy prescriptions in response to that are… not great, in that they rely heavily on cutting off the supply before doing much about organising the replacement, and completely overlook the fact that the sectors specifically mentioned (care and universities) have only got into the place they’re in because of how government has insisted on managing their funding - oh and also completely overlook the B***** thing. The bit that’s really, horribly wrong is the presentation. The sorry evidence of where you end up by chasing after Farage’s votes confronts Starmer every day from the denuded opposition benches, and yet he let someone put a draft in front of him that included the phrase ‘The damage this has done to our country has been incalculable’ and clicked ‘send’. That’s the bit I’m really struggling to get past.
It may be true that British employers are addicted to cheap foreign labour but oh my, how British politicians are addicted to trying to make a thing out of ‘getting tough on immigration’.
Move-a… side, and let the mango through… let the mango through
Woodchopper wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 5:19 pm
Possible that Starmer is working on a deal with the EU and this is a bit of a smokescreen designed to distract the Faragists.
I suspect that the long term problem isn’t going to be a critical shortage of healthcare personnel. But instead the government taking lots criticism when the public learns about the inevitable relaxing of the immigration rules.
No, I don’t think either of these is true. As mentioned public concern about immigration has far more to do with perception than actuality. Most likely is that they know migration figures are coming down anyway, since fewer people are now arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong, and hope to make some tough announcements and in due course point triumphantly at how well they have worked. But it’s hopelessly naive to imagine that Farage, the popular press or Reform voters will give them any credit.
Move-a… side, and let the mango through… let the mango through
Woodchopper wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 5:19 pm
Possible that Starmer is working on a deal with the EU and this is a bit of a smokescreen designed to distract the Faragists.
I suspect that the long term problem isn’t going to be a critical shortage of healthcare personnel. But instead the government taking lots criticism when the public learns about the inevitable relaxing of the immigration rules.
No, I don’t think either of these is true. As mentioned public concern about immigration has far more to do with perception than actuality. Most likely is that they know migration figures are coming down anyway, since fewer people are now arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong, and hope to make some tough announcements and in due course point triumphantly at how well they have worked. But it’s hopelessly naive to imagine that Farage, the popular press or Reform voters will give them any credit.
Indeed. Immigration is already down massively, but apparently it's also still soaring.
Similarly, the US in under invasion, and Trump has declared the border completely secure.
Stephanie wrote: Wed May 14, 2025 12:50 pmI'm sceptical of people's lived experience here, because some of the places that complain most about immigration do not have particularly diverse populations
Yes, exactly this. Also that public concern about immigration almost exactly tracks the amount of coverage that the popular media devote to immigration.
Letting the Daily Mail and friends set Farage’s agenda for you is not a wise political move at all. Looks like they are trying to the same with Net Zero targets.
Stephanie wrote: Wed May 14, 2025 12:50 pmI'm sceptical of people's lived experience here, because some of the places that complain most about immigration do not have particularly diverse populations
Yes, exactly this. Also that public concern about immigration almost exactly tracks the amount of coverage that the popular media devote to immigration.
Letting the Daily Mail and friends set Farage’s agenda for you is not a wise political move at all. Looks like they are trying to the same with Net Zero targets.
I do think that for Net Zero we at least have an Energy Secretary prepared to fight that corner.
where once I used to scintillate
now I sin till ten past three
Stephanie wrote: Wed May 14, 2025 12:50 pmI'm sceptical of people's lived experience here, because some of the places that complain most about immigration do not have particularly diverse populations
Yes, exactly this. Also that public concern about immigration almost exactly tracks the amount of coverage that the popular media devote to immigration.
Letting the Daily Mail and friends set Farage’s agenda for you is not a wise political move at all. Looks like they are trying to the same with Net Zero targets.
