Under the government's Immigration White Paper policy, there are plans to cut overseas care workers and increase from five to 10 years the length of time people will have to live in UK before qualifying for settlement and citizenship.
English language rules will also be strengthened, with all adult dependents required to demonstrate a basic understanding, while the length of time students can stay in the UK after completing their studies will be reduced.
Starmer said the policies would "finally take back control of our borders", recalling the pro-Brexit slogan used at the height of the campaign to leave the European Union in 2016.
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Net migration
Labour vowed in its general election manifesto last year to significantly reduce net migration, which stood at 728,000 in the 12 months to last June.
It had peaked at 906,000 in 2023 after averaging 200,000 for most of the 2010s.
Starmer, a former human rights lawyer who voted for the UK to remain part of the EU, is under renewed pressure to tackle immigration following the anti-immigration Reform party's gains in recent local elections.
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer promised on Monday (12) to cut net migration to Britain significantly over the next four years, saying the country risked becoming "an island of strangers" without tougher rules on immigration.
Controlling immigration was a key factor in Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union, yet net arrivals reached record levels after it left the bloc, helping to boost the appeal of Nigel Farage's right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK party.
(From left) Home secretary Yvette Cooper, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds, education secretary Bridget Phillipson, health secretary Wes Streeting and migration minister Seema Malhotra at the immigration press conference led by Sir KeirStarmer at Downing Street on Monday (12)Ian Vogler - WPA Pool/Getty Images
In a sweeping set of immigration reforms, the Labour government said it would increase English-speaking requirements for immigrants, make it harder for them to stay in the country, and prevent companies including care homes from recruiting abroad.
The automatic right to apply for citizenship will only be granted to someone who has lived in Britain for 10 years, not five, and skilled worker visas will be restricted to graduate-level applicants.
"Make no mistake, this plan means migration will fall. That is a promise," Starmer told reporters in Downing Street. "If we do need to take further steps... then mark my words, we will."
He also rejected suggestions from business leaders that the tighter immigration rules would harm Britain's economy, saying growth had stagnated in recent years while immigration surged.
"The theory that higher migration numbers necessarily lead to higher growth has been tested in the last four years," he said. "That link doesn't hold on that evidence."
But he refused to set a target for net migration cuts, saying "arbitrary" pledges by previous governments had failed.
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Reform wins
While the current plans have been in the works for months, government officials acknowledge they need to do more to address voters' concerns about the high levels of immigration after Reform UK won more than 670 council seats in the English local elections this month as well as its first two mayoral posts and opened a big lead in opinion polls.
However, Starmer's tack to the right on immigration risks alienating Labour's large base of liberal supporters, with the Liberal Democrats and the Greens picking up votes on the left.
Immigration has long been a key issue for voters, with critics arguing that social cohesion can be damaged if the country does not build enough houses or expand public services to accommodate a larger population.
Starmer said nations depend on rules that set out rights and responsibilities, adding: "Without them, we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together."
The new rules target legal immigration, butsmall boat arrivals remain a major challengeDan Kitwood/Getty Images
However, Labour MP Nadia Whittome accused the prime minister in a social media post of mimicking "the scaremongering of the far-right".
"Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family," she said, adding the "anti-migrant rhetoric from the government is shameful and dangerous".
The white paper also includes new powers to deport foreigners who commit offences in the country.
Currently, the government is only informed of foreign nationals who receive prison sentences.
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Fair immigration
Under the new arrangements all foreign nationals convicted of offences will be flagged to the government.
"Britain has been strengthened by people coming to start new businesses, study at universities, contribute to our cultural and sporting excellence and do some of the toughest jobs in our country," home secretary, Yvette Cooper, told parliament.
"But to be successful and fair, our immigration must be properly controlled and managed," she said, vowing to "bring net migration down and ... turn the page on chaos".
The paper also includes new visa controls requiring foreign skilled workers to have a university degree to secure a job in the UK.
And to reduce lower skilled migration Cooper has said she aims to cut 50,000 lower-skilled worker visas this year.
On the plans to double the length of time before migrants can make settlement or citizenship requests, high-skilled individuals "who play by the rules and contribute to the economy" could be fast-tracked, according to Downing Street.
Farage accused Starmer of "playing catch up" on the issue.
"Starmer is a hypocrite who believes in open borders... Nobody believes a word he says," Farage said on X.
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“No credibility”
Shadow home secretary, Chris Philp MP, said: “Keir Starmer has no credibility on this issue. “This is the man who once described immigration laws as racist and wrote letters protesting at the deportation of foreign criminals.
“Starmer has tried to claim credit for the reduction in legal immigration since the election - which resulted from Conservative policies.
“Yvette Cooper admitted yesterday that their new policies would only reduce immigration by 50,000. That is not enough. The public rightly want the days of mass immigration to end.”
Care England, a charity representing the adult care sector, said the decision to close social care visas to new applications from abroad was a "crushing blow to an already fragile sector".
"International recruitment wasn't a silver bullet but it was a lifeline. Taking it away now, with no warning, no funding and no alternative is not just short-sighted - it's cruel," said chief executive Martin Green.
Higher net numbers of foreign students, along with a rise in people arriving from Ukraine and Hong Kong, led immigration numbers to quadruple in the years after Brexit.
Net migration - the number of people coming to Britain minus the number leaving - hit a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023, up from 184,000 who arrived in the same period during 2019, when Britain was still in the EU.
But businesses argue they cannot hire enough staff locally, and employers in science, technology and other areas warn that tough restrictions will hit overall economic growth.
The new measures mainly relate to reducing legal immigration, but the arrival of asylum seekers on small, often unseaworthy boats is an equally big challenge for the government.
Separate legislation to tackle irregular immigration, called the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, is currently going through parliament.
(Agencies)
He received an MBE last December for his services to the south Asian community in the UK.
His granddaughter Amrit, 31, who calls him Babaji, told Eastern Eye: “He has been bed-bound for the past two months, but before that, he was very fit and active. He was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. He has always shown great resilience – both mentally and physically – and taught us to treat others with humility and respect.
Dhatt with sons Jasvinder and Parminder
“These values run very deep in our family and remind us youngsters to appreciate the peace that comes from these values. Just recently, babaji expressed his hope that there would never be another world war, having seen firsthand what division and violence can do, not just to nations, but to humankind and the human spirit.”
For the family, VE Day (Thursday, 8) was more than just a celebration of victory. It’s a day of remembrance and reflection. As a family, Amrit said, they spend this time in honour of not just Dhatt and everything he gave up, but also the sacrifices of other women, children, and men from that time.
Amrit said, “These stories are particularly important from people of minority backgrounds because these soldiers and veterans helped build this country. They didn’t just come to immigrate; they built up this country, protected it, and shaped its history. People need to understand that immigrants weren’t just contributors to the nation – they defended it and completely changed its prospects. It exemplifies the idea of looking beyond fear, injustice, and prejudices towards people of colour, because there should be immense pride in the fact that previous generations helped shape the country.”
The family reflects on how young Dhatt was when he fought in the war that led to the freedom of today and they are grateful for the difference his sacrifices made, Amrit said.
Dhatt as a young soldier
Dhatt joined the Indian Army in February 1941 as a sepoy (private). He was deployed to the Far East campaign, where he fought in Kohima, northeast India, supporting the Allied Forces in breaking through Japanese defenses.
He left the newly-independent Indian Army in late 1949 with the rank of havildar-major. The army veteran served as a physical training instructor from 1942 to 1943 and army store keeper from 1943 to 1949. After the war, Dhatt returned to India before relocating with his family to Hounslow in 1963.
Amrit said, “He wanted to continue his education, but there were financial restraints in the family. When the war broke out in 1941, he decided to join the army, partly out of duty, but also out of necessity to support the family. Babaji always speaks about the army and the pride he felt in serving, as well as the friendships he made while serving in the British Indian Army. “However, there were things he chose not to speak about. I think he possibly suffered from some traumatic stress disorder, though in his generation and culture, such things are not openly discussed, especially by men.
Dhatt with the then Prince of Wales, and the late Queen
“He often speaks very happily about his memories with fellow soldiers, including the white British soldiers. He especially talks about how they used to play sports together, sometimes football or volleyball. Despite never mentioning or criticising anything negative, his stories hint at segregation between white soldiers and soldiers of colour when they were away from the sports pitch.”
She added, “Despite others openly speaking about racism, my grandfather always focused on the positive, saying the British treated them well.”
When the war ended, Indian soldiers were granted indefinite leave to remain – this was the British government’s way of saying thank you for their service.
According to Amrit, till a few years ago, there was not much recognition of the role of Asian and Commonwealth soldiers in the world wars.
She noted how until the early 1980s, during the 40th anniversary celebrations of VE and VJ Day, white veterans from the UK, Canada, America, New Zealand, and Australia were honoured for their service.
“None of the recognition was directed towards soldiers of colour from undivided India, the Caribbean, or Africa. At that point, Babaji and other veterans in west London created an association called the Undivided Indian Ex-Servicemen’s Association to raise awareness of the contributions of soldiers from these regions.”
Amrit said her grandfather did not complain about how Asian and Commonwealth contributions to the war are remembered. But she said he wished more could have been done earlier.
Dhatt gardening at home
“The association he co-founded came about purely because there wasn’t any recognition; these soldiers were practically forgotten. It’s very important that the Commonwealth soldiers who played a vital role are considered and remembered, and that wider communities and societies understand that,” Amrit said.
“Babaji is glad that recognition is growing, but there’s still a long way to go. While there’s slight disappointment, he is appreciative of the little milestones that have been achieved.”
“His message is that it’s important everyone remembers and understands that the freedoms and things we enjoy nowadays came from the fact that they sacrificed so much in their time. It wasn’t just for a particular country or background of people, but for the wellness of humankind as a whole – people of all colour and backgrounds.
Dhatt with his granddaughter Amrit
“It’s important that future generations remember the contributions made, and that no one would have to experience something like a world war again, but rather live with peace and respect for one another.”
Dhatt’s wife, Gurbachan Kaur Dhatt, passed away in 1990. His elder son, Parminder Singh Dhatt (Amrit’s father) is based in the UK, while another son, Jasvinder Singh Dhatt, lives in New Jersey, US. The Dhatt family has seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren now.
Describing her grandfather as a “very positive man”, Amrit added, “Until February, he was very independent. He has always been very high-spirited and never wanted to feel like a burden. Even now, he jokes with us family members, saying, ‘You guys are telling me I can’t do it, but I know I can.’”
Funds raised by the prize draw will help Lepra to provide vital support for some of the world's most vulnerable people, helping them to overcome the emotional and social impact of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF).
As many as one-in-two people diagnosed with leprosy will experience significant mental health concerns, resulting from the stigma and discrimination which is sadly still prevalent. Positive mental health is crucial for people's recovery, as such Lepra provide professional counselling sessions for people affected by leprosy, LF and their families.
Community volunteers are also trained to provide ongoing support and guidance, to help people rebuild their lives with independence and dignity. Many of Lepra's volunteers have recovered from leprosy or LF themselves.
Firoza and RupaliTom Bradley
Understanding and empathy
When Firoza from Bogura in Bangladesh was diagnosed with leprosy her husband divorced her, she was left feeling suicidal but through Lepra's Mind to Heart project she has slowly regained positive mental health.
"I didn’t want to live with this sort of pain. People gossiped behind my back. I also felt bad for myself because of the worsening leprosy – it was difficult to do daily tasks. I didn’t eat or wash properly. Or do any kind of work.”
Fizora’s turning point came when she was referred for counselling followed by support from a Mental Motivator – a community volunteer with basic mental health training. Rupali has recovered from leprosy herself and shows great compassion for the people she supports. Over the past eight years, Rupali has visited Firoza 2-3 times a month.
“It helps to have someone to really listen.
These days I’m feeling much better, and more motivated.”
Open to over-18’s, Lepra Mental Health Awareness Week Prize Draw will run from Monday 5 May 2025 to Friday 23 May 2025, with entries costing £2 each. To enter, click here.
This at a time when television executives would sell their mothers for those all-important ratings.
For the first time on terrestrial TV, the BBC showed the Eid-ul-Fitr morning service live from Bradford Central Mosque.
It marked the end of Ramadan, the month-long period when Muslims don’t eat or drink between the hours of sunrise and sunset.
That evening, producers convinced prominent Muslims to appear on live TV to discuss the significance of this holy festival, rather than spending time with their families.
“It sounds like a silly thing to say, but for all of us, whatever your culture, religion, whatever your background is, if you look at it in a bigger context, it shows that we've arrived,” said Ahmed, the BBC’s former head of religion and ethics.
“What it showed was the fact that when we talk about entertainment, and we talk about communities from subcontinent, we often talk about Bollywood or things like that.
“But what we're not all about Bollywood as much as we all love it, there's great things happening here.
“We've got comedians and sports people and performers and artists and writers and all this kind of actors and all these things.”
Big audiences
The evening show, Celebrity Eid, aired at 10.40, and Ahmed said it attracted the biggest television audience of any broadcaster at that time that day.
“What we’re saying is, you can win your slot with something which feels unique and different and appeals to a wide audience because anybody who thinks that British, Muslims were the only people watching those shows does not know anything.
Aaqil Ahmed
“On the psychology of the viewers, but also about the makeup of our country, people were watching it because they liked their own religion and culture to be celebrated.
“Many people were just inquisitive, and for some people who were watching, it was because they wanted to know what really goes on rather than the kind of rubbish that we’re fed by people who don't know anything about any faith.”
Idea for programme
Ahmed had the idea for this once-in-a-generation programme during the pandemic.
On his walks he considered and questioned how Eid, where a congregation is essential, would be celebrated under lockdown rules.
That sowed the seeds for the programmes – but it would be four years later that his vision would come to fruition.
In fact, things began to come together last November when a BBC commissioner suggested that Ahmed’s media production and communications consultancy, Amplify Consulting, couldn’t do this alone.
"It shows that we as a society are very different than what we were in the past," says Aaqil Ahmed Credit: BBC/Firecracker Films/Ahmed Peerbux
So, the visiting professor at the University of Greater Manchester, reached out to Firecracker Films, and the rest is history.
“If you believe in something, you have to find ways of selling it, and it might take longer than you think it should,” he said.
“Now, you should also know whether or not there's a desire for this, and when I talked to people within the industry, even three years ago, and I started having initial conversations, I never found one person who said it was a bad idea, and that's the sign.
“Talk to people in confidence, and if they tell you, no, you've got to start listening.
“You can't just walk away from the first person, but I never found one person who said that's not going to fly.”
That didn’t mean it was all plain sailing.
“Until the day we signed the contract, there was still a part of me thinking this will never happen.
“So, you've got to persevere, you've got to be strong, but you've also got to find people you can work with, and you've got to find broadcasters that get it as well.
“I think in this instance, we found a commissioner who really wanted to do this, and let's be honest with you, a broadcaster which very quickly put its money where its mouth was.
“We can't always say that's the case for most broadcasters, including the BBC.”
Important questions
But the Eid programmes raised a couple of important questions in my mind, and something I’ve written about extensively in Eastern Eye.
Do broadcasters really get that Britain’s changing and, if so, why are they failing to portray authentically or in depth that evolution?
Ahmed has an alternative perspective.
“I think at this moment in time, we're struggling across the whole of broadcasting, and at the same time, it's never been better.
“What that shows you is, we, as a society, are very different than what we were in the past.
“When I first started work years ago, it was pretty easy.
“You knew what you're doing, and you could do it on Network East, those kinds of shows.
“Then you got the Asian Network, you kind of knew who you were making programmes for.
BBC's Celebrity Eid attracted the biggest television audience of any broadcaster at that time that day Credit: BBC/Firecracker Films/Ahmed Peerbux
“Now we have a much more of a wider variety of people living in the country because of migration patterns changing over the last 15, 20 years.
“We have people coming from, whether they're coming as economic migrants or as refugees or on visas or students or as second or third generation.
“I could go on, people from Africa, which part of Africa, west Africa, north Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, east Africa?
“Then you've got Arabs, Gulf Arabs.
“So, the diversity now is not what it was before, and I think that becomes almost impossible to manage in the way that we used to manage these things.”
Critical acclaim
The BBC broadcast the programmes on 30 March, and they’ve already caught the attention of critics.
The Radio Times has nominated these, along with five others, for the prestigious Sandford St Martin Awards, which reward religion programming.
It’s up to viewers to vote for their favourite.
“I think it's really brave of the Radio Times to throw it in there because we were only on air less than a month ago, and they have thrown it into the mix straight away,” said the programmes’ executive director.
“That shows you the kind of impact that it's had, and I'm quite I'm quite touched by that.
“But I'm also not surprised because, it's not repeating programmes that have happened before, and it's not kind of reinforcing stereotypes.
“It's trying to do something very brave and different, and I think they've recognised that.
“I hope people who vote for it will recognise it as well, and if we want more of this kind of fresh, imaginative programming, then we've got to celebrate it.
“It's got to start winning, and the broadcasters have got to be told as well that we like it because they get told when they don't like it.
“Let's start telling them when we do like it.”
Britain is now home to the world’s major religions and their significant dates.
So, for south Asian communities could we see Diwali, Vaisakhi and Vesak (Buddha Day) celebrations on BBC TV?
“A lot of people have already spoken to me about saying, will you be pitching Diwali and Vaisakhi?
“I said I definitely would, but I would say to you it's not my decision obviously.
“Anyway, I'm not the head of religion, it's up to other people, it's up to the BBC.
“Will they do this again?
“Well, we're definitely talking about trying to, I think it was very successful.”
You can find details of how you can vote for your favourite religion programme, as nominated by the Radio Times here: https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/sandford-st-martin-awards-2025-nominations/.
