I had lots of conversations with people about immigration last week. From speaking to constituents at a street surgery, to meeting a group of West Africans who have come here to work in the NHS, to friends and family. For all the noise and emotion in the debate, I think most people agree we should have manageable net migration levels (well below the high of 900,000 net migration under the last government), control of our borders, investment in skills and training for British workers, while taking urgent steps to tackle small boat crossings. These are the principles underscoring the government’s new immigration plans and they are principles I share.
For too long, this debate has been dominated by Conservative and Reform politicians who make wild claims and promise unworkable policies they then can’t deliver which further erode public trust in the ability of governments to fix our immigration and asylum system.
Remember the promise that Brexit meant we could control our borders and reduce net migration? The Conservatives completely lost control and the numbers shot up to their highest levels post-Brexit. Billions of pounds are now being spent as a consequence on temporary accommodation for asylum seekers who should have had their claims processed already and either been returned or allowed to settle, get jobs and pay back into the system.
On legal migration, the Conservatives ran an experiment in open borders. They allowed employers to bring in huge numbers of cheaper workers and slash investment in skills and training here in the UK, where we have millions of people not working or learning. We have many doctors and nurses in West Cumbria from West Africa who are doing a brilliant job and they are welcome here. But how can it be right that at the same time nursing courses are closing in the UK? Less talked about is the fact that we’re also taking skilled professionals away from countries that need them very badly.
Reform promise no better. They have no plan to stop illegal immigration and their policy to reduce net immigration to zero means we wouldn’t be able to recruit controlled numbers of skilled workers who want to come and contribute to the UK.
This Labour government is getting on with the hard graft of policies which will actually work. Reducing visa numbers gradually in sectors like care and construction as we invest in skills here in Britain to get more British people into these jobs. Higher expectations on people to learn English. Speeding up the processing of asylum claims so we can end the use of hotels, return more people and allow those with a legitimate claim to settle here and integrate. And signing more agreements with third countries and forming closer partnerships on policing and criminal justice to smash the gangs at source and reduce small boat crossings.
Josh MacAlister MP 