Team Blitz India
LONDON: With rising concerns and mounting political debates over increasing immigration ahead of crucial elections next year, the Rishi Sunak Government has introduced a slew of measures to curb the influx.
A Bill to pave the way for asylum-seekers’ deportation to Rwanda was introduced in Parliament by Home Secretary James Cleverly on December 7. It followed the announcement of a plan to deliver the biggest-ever cut in net migration.
The Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill, published a day after Britain signed a new treaty with the African nation, however, has divided the Tories with the resignation of the Immigration Minister. (Box alongside).
Clarifying his Government’s policy on illegal immigration, PM Sunak accepted that the introduction of “the toughest anti-illegal immigration Sunak Govt takes multiple steps to curb immigration law ever” will “upset some people and you will hear a lot of criticism about it”.
Govt under pressure
His Government was under pressure since the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revised net migration figures to 745,000 for the year ending December 2022. This is a new record high and above 139,000 on its previous estimate.
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Cleverly has announced a plan to slash legal migration levels and “curb abuse of the immigration system, delivering the biggest ever reduction in net migration”. The Government will tighten the Health and Care visa by preventing overseas care workers from bringing their dependents to the UK. In addition, care providers will now only be able to sponsor migrant workers.
The Government will also make sure that migrants coming to the UK make a “fair financial contribution” so that public services, including the NHS, “are not taken advantage of” by increasing the annual Immigration Health Surcharge from £624 to £1,035.
Earning threshold up
Workers and their dependents account for some of the highest proportion of visas being issued. Skilled worker and health and care worker visas accounted for 63 pc of work grants.
From next spring, the Government will increase the earning threshold for overseas workers by nearly 50 per cent from its current position of £26,200 to £38,700, encouraging businesses to look to British talent first.
The Government will also increase the minimum income required for British citizens and those settled in the UK who want their family members to join them. The Migration Advisory Committee will also be asked to review the Graduate visa route to ensure it works in the best interests of the UK and to ensure steps are being taken to prevent abuse.
