In a bold move reflecting rising right-wing sentiments, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a comprehensive plan to tighten immigration rules. In response to increasing pressure after right-wing party Reform U.K. gained traction in local elections, Starmer declared that the government is “taking back control of our borders.” He criticized previous administrations for what he described as an out-of-control immigration system, likening their policies to an uncontrolled experiment with open borders.

The new measures, aimed at legal immigration, will reduce visas for lower-skilled workers, heighten language proficiency requirements, and double the time for newcomers to potentially gain citizenship from five to ten years. Starmer, leading the Labour Party, stated, “The experiment is over. We are taking back control of our borders,” echoing the sentiments that fueled the Brexit vote in 2016.

However, unlike past Conservative leaders who set specific immigration targets, Starmer's administration refrained from announcing concrete immigration numbers, choosing instead to communicate a broader intent to regulate incoming migration. This approach aims to respond to the political narrative while steering clear of previous political pitfalls tied to failing immigration targets.