The British government is gradually shifting its immigration policy away from past promises as part of the Conservative Party’s framework for the 2019 elections. The net flow of people entering and leaving the country reached a record high in 2022, with a total of 745,000 passengers noted by the Office for National Statistics. The latest figures have put pressure on the party’s more hardline wing and prompted calls for decisive action from the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, to prevent potential missteps before the next general election.
A small but influential faction within the Conservatives, roughly twenty MPs, reacted quickly to the immigration data. They cautioned that exceptional circumstances cannot explain the trend alone, arguing that a steady pattern has emerged over time. This group criticized the government for political choices believed to have driven the rise in net migration, and they pointed to the dismissal of Suella Braverman, a prominent defender of strict immigration controls, as a key signal of dysfunction in recent months.
Health personnel
Supporters of tougher immigration limits argued that the government has not halted lawful arrivals and suggested that the prime minister has failed to curb net migration. They contend that the rise is linked to policy decisions affecting entry of care workers, overseas medical staff, family members, and students. The new statistics show a notable contribution from health sector arrivals, many of whom come from outside the European Union, which has attracted protests from hardline conservatives.
The government has sought to minimize the impact of these figures by attributing much of the increase to visas issued to refugees from Ukraine and Hong Kong. Officials have discussed potential safeguards to prevent misuse of the system and to tighten the visa framework. The Home Secretary and other senior ministers have indicated that further measures will be announced in due course, including possible limits on visas for family members of health sector workers.
Irregular arrivals
At the same time, the administration recognizes the essential role of irregular labor mobility for certain sectors of the economy that faced staffing gaps following Brexit and the pandemic. Prime Minister Sunak has signaled an aim to mobilize millions of inactive workers, including those with long-term unemployment or health challenges, to rejoin the labor force and fill vacancies in crucial industries. Yet the government is aware that such reforms will take time to implement. Beyond attention to net migration trends, the overarching objective remains reducing unlawful entry and addressing the rise in crossings across the English Channel.
In recent months the government has prioritized management of irregular entries and reports a reduction in this area compared with the previous year. Officials emphasize that the broader commitment is to lower both illegal entries and overall immigration levels while continuing to enhance border controls and the efficiency of asylum and visa processes. The focus remains on ensuring a controlled and lawful migration framework that supports the economy without compromising security or public services.