Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has told business leaders that the days of “cheap labour” must end in order to wean the UK off its “immigration dependency.”
Sir Keir advocated for a strategy to train British workers and transition the economy away from its “low-pay model.”
He did, however, acknowledge the need for skilled foreign workers and promised a “pragmatic” approach to immigration.
His speech comes at a time when businesses are urging more migrant workers to help boost economic growth.
Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer delivered his speech to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference in Birmingham on Monday, following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Mr Sunak told business leaders having “proper control of our borders” was one of the immediate benefits of Brexit and said curbing illegal migration was the “country’s number one priority right now”.
“People are arguing against immigration – but it’s the only thing that has increased our growth potential since March,” Mr Danker said.
There was considerably less migration during the Covid-19 pandemic than in previous years and the number of EU citizens moving to the UK has dropped since the UK left the European Union.
The Office for Budget Responsibility has forecasted a decline in net migration, with the number expected to settle at 205,000 a year from 2026 onwards.
In his speech, Sir Keir set out what the UK’s immigration policy would look like under a Labour government, should the party win the next general election.
He promised an immigration system that works better for the needs of business and recognises the need for skilled workers from abroad.
But he stressed that any changes to a points-based migration system “will come with new conditions for business”.
“We will expect you to bring forward a clear plan for higher skills and more training, for better pay and conditions, for investment in new technology,” he said.
“But our common goal must be to help the British economy off its immigration dependency. To start investing more in training up workers who are already here.”
Sir Keir outlined Labour’s plans for reform including:
- Ensuring all employers able to sponsor visas are meeting decent standards of pay and conditions
- Speed up visa delays to avoid labour shortages damaging the economy
- Introduce training and plans for improving pay and conditions for roles that require international recruitment
- Reforming the migration advisory committee to project future trends more accurately
Sir Keir spoke about immigration in an interview with the BBC last week, saying the UK was recruiting too many people from overseas into the NHS.
Labour’s leader appears to have a genuine belief that this is the best way to build sustainable economic growth.
Keir Starmer believes, we are told, that there needs to be a fundamental rethink that involves training the domestic workforce rather than relying on immigration.
But there is a political calculation too.
Sir Keir wants to persuade the old Labour heartlands which voted for Brexit that he understands some of the concerns about high levels of immigration.
He also wants to try and convince them he is serious about making Brexit work – without freedom of movement.
But not everyone in the Labour Party will agree with the tone or the substance of his speech.
The rise of legal migration to the UK was one of the most prominent political issues in the country ahead of the EU referendum in 2016.
Former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron once promised to get immigration down to the tens of thousands a year.
Net migration – the difference between people coming to the UK and those leaving – has been over 200,000 since the late 1990s.
Asked how Labour’s policy differed from that of the Conservatives, shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds said his party would demand businesses implement better pay and conditions, particularly in the care sector.
He also said Labour would introduce flexibility to the apprenticeship levy, so companies could spend the money on other forms of training.
Under Sir Keir’s leadership, Labour has ruled out a return to the EU single market, which guarantees citizens of member states the freedom to live and work anywhere in the bloc.
Labour’s policy on Brexit has divided the party, with some calling for a much closer relationship with the EU on different terms.
Sir Keir’s speech comes as Mr Sunak denied that ministers could look to realign the UK with EU laws.
Some Tories have been angered by suggestions the government was weighing up a Swiss-style relationship with the EU.
But the prime minister told the CBI conference on Monday that the UK “will not pursue any relationship with Europe that relies on alignment with EU laws”.