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UK announces plans to introduce new caps on work, family visas

Immigration to the UK is estimated to have seen a net increase of 685,000 last year

UK Conservative Party
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Image: Shutterstock

The UK’s ruling Conservative party reportedly unveiled plans to implement new annual caps on work and family visas in an effort to curb immigration.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, facing an uphill battle against Labour’s Keir Starmer, proposed that the number of visas issued each year will be determined by parliament, a move seen to address public concerns about immigration.

Sunak’s proposal comes in response to rising net migration levels, a central issue in the upcoming July election, media reports said.

Immigration to the UK is estimated to have seen a net increase of 685,000 last year.

Although this number is slightly lower than the previous year, it remains significantly higher than the 2019 figures when the Tories promised to reduce immigration.

The proposed annual cap will be gradually reduced each year, aiming to lower migration numbers without impacting foreign students and seasonal workers.

Official statistics reveal that more than 300,000 work visas were issued in the year ending March 2024, more than double the number from 2019.

Over the weekend, Labour leader Keir Starmer introduced his party’s immigration plan, which focuses on reducing regular migration.

Starmer’s strategy includes measures to penalise employers who breach labour laws and to prioritize the training of British workers over the hiring of foreign labor.

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