UK's Starmer pledges to quickly introduce new plan to reduce immigration
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a press conference on Nov. 28 that he would introduce a new plan to reduce immigration, centered on strict approval of work permits (work visas).
Hours after official data showed net migration had reached a record of more than 900,000 in the year to June 2023, much higher than original estimates, Starmer called a news conference to spell out his determination to reduce the numbers.
Net migration to the UK fell in the 12 months to September this year, partly due to Conservative policies introduced under Richey Sunnucks' premiership, including preventing many migrant students and workers from bringing their families to the UK.
Starmer also issued a warning to employers that those who do not comply with visa or minimum wage requirements will be banned from hiring foreign workers for two years.
Immigration in the UK has become a hot topic, with citizens worried that already strained public services will not be able to cope with the influx. On the other hand, industries such as healthcare rely heavily on foreign workers. Without foreign labor, they said, the industry would not be able to operate.
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