Keir Starmer has made a significant contribution to the debate on immigration and introduced the government’s proposals for reducing net migration. He has insisted that implementing a cap on migration is unhelpful, I agree with him on that.
He is quoted as warning that we risk “becoming a nation of strangers” without tighter rules and controls around immigration. I wonder how helpful this kind of language is. It sounds once again like the language of the alt-right is aped by those at the centre of politics but this may stoke up fear and antagonism without providing practical solutions that will make a difference. This is to repeat the mistakes of the previous government.
Proposals include increasing the skills requirement for immigrants to degree level along with required standards for English language and also doubling the amount of time required before a citizenship application from 5 years to 10 years. I’m not sure at all what is gained by the last change, indeed, surely if you want people to integrate into society, you should make it easier for this to happen sooner. Upping expectations re English language is an important step but will require more resources. The requirement for degree level qualfiications and skills seems limke a retrograde step to me as it restricts the ability of businesses to recruit in line with their own policies and does not consider the possibility that there may be labour or skills gaps that need filling that don’t meet that threshold. Even the concept of “degree level” is a bit vague. Standards vary from institute to institute and discipline to discipline. Then the question arises as to whether someone with a degree in history is of greater or lesser use than a skilled engineer without a degree.
I’m not convinced that the Government’s proposals move us any further forward. In fact, it seems to be one step forward, two steps back.
Faithroots 