Labour’s immigration shake-up challenges decades of party policy

Keir Starmer's publication of his white paper on restoring control over the immigration system marks a pivotal moment in his government's approach to immigration policy. The paper aims to pivot away from economic growth reliant on immigration, instead focusing on equipping homegrown workers with necessary skills to reduce dependency on overseas workers—a strategy reminiscent of past leaders but facing significant backlash from traditionally supportive unions. Concerns from Unison highlight the growing risk to sectors reliant on migrant workers as tighter controls are introduced, as Starmer's government seeks to balance labor protections with a more muscular approach to immigration.