The UK government has unveiled plans to raise the minimum salary required for foreign workers to take up jobs in the UK as part of its efforts to reduce legal migration. Home Secretary James Cleverly has announced a significant hike in the minimum salary threshold for skilled foreign workers, which will see the requirement rise from £26,200 to £38,700 next year. This move is part of a five-point plan aimed at curbing immigration, which comes in response to mounting pressure from Conservative MPs to address the issue of legal migration.
The government’s decision comes in the wake of alarming figures revealing record levels of net migration, which has reached 745,000 last year. It is clear that there is a widespread concern about the impact of high levels of legal migration, prompting the government to take action to address this pressing issue. The surge in immigration has also raised issues regarding the abuse of health and care visas over the years, further highlighting the urgency for corrective measures.
In addition to the increase in the minimum salary threshold, the government is expected to introduce a range of other measures as part of its plan to reduce legal migration. These include scaling back health and social care visas, as well as an overhaul of the shortage occupation list. These steps are deemed essential in order to effectively manage the influx of foreign workers while addressing the challenges posed by high levels of immigration.
The pressure on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to take action on migration has been immense, with some Conservative MPs emphasizing the critical nature of this issue for the party. With the next election looming, concerns have been raised about the potential impact of high migration levels on the Conservatives’ electoral prospects. Some MPs have referenced polling data, suggesting that a surge in support for right-wing parties such as Reform UK, spearheaded by Nigel Farage, could pose a threat to the Conservatives in the upcoming election.
Amidst this discourse, reactions from within the Conservative Party have varied. Several MPs have expressed their support for the government’s proposed measures, with Simon Clarke, the MP for Middlesborough, hailing the changes as a “massive step in the right direction.” Similarly, the influential group The New Conservatives, led by Tory MPs Miriam Cates and Danny Kruger, lauded the decision, stating that it was “brilliant to see that common sense has prevailed.”
As the UK government gears up to implement these new measures, it remains to be seen how these changes will address the issue of legal migration and whether they will effectively contribute to curbing the record levels of net migration observed in recent years.