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The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Labour migration crackdown to shrink UK economy, expert analysis finds
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer drew furious comparisons to the racist 20th-century Tory politician Enoch Powell after he claimed the UK was becoming an 'island of strangers' in a speech in which he also outlined plans to tighten migration rules. The Labour leader outlined measures including ending all visas for care workers, extending the wait to apply for settlement or citizenship from five years to 10, introducing higher English standard tests, and a cut in the amount of time foreign students at UK universities can stay after graduating. READ MORE: Scottish care sector chief compares Keir Starmer to Enoch Powell in damning comments The Home Office said that the changes could reduce the number of people coming to the UK by up to 100,000 per year – while Starmer dismissed concerns that doing so would negatively impact the UK economy. However, analysis from Bloomberg Economics has now projected that the measures will in fact cut UK GDP by 0.6% by 2029/30. Tax revenues would also drop by around £9 billion per year, the analysis further found. It comes despite Labour having repeatedly made clear that economic growth is their first priority. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said he is aiming to grow the economy before anything elseBloomberg Economics' Ana Andrade said: 'The Government's new migration policy is one more reason to think the autumn statement will be another challenging event for the Chancellor. 'Labour's turn to the right on migration may be seen as politically savvy. In time, it might also ease the demands on housing and public services. 'In the near term, however, the most obvious consequences of tighter migration controls could well be more difficult decisions on tax and spending.' READ MORE: 'You've been learning': Nigel Farage praises Keir Starmer for immigration speech The news comes after First Minister John Swinney said that Labour's immigration stance poses a 'critical economic threat' to Scotland. 'I made this point to the Prime Minister when I met him on Friday – that the changing dynamics of our labour market and the need for us to encourage migration to support our working age population has to be recognised in the approach that is taken to migration in the United Kingdom," the SNP leader said. Earlier in May, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the biggest fall in net migration since the pandemic. The figure stood at an estimated 431,000 in the year ending December 2024, down 49.9% from 860,000 a year earlier. The biggest drop in terms of numbers was seen in non-EU nationals coming to the UK for work – this fell by 108,000, which was a 49% fall in the year ending December 2024. The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford said at the time that the 'record-breaking decline' in net migration was possible 'primarily because numbers had previously been so high'. Its director, Dr Madeleine Sumption, said the economic impact of the fall 'is actually likely to be relatively small' because 'the groups that have driven the decline, such as study and work dependants, are neither the highest skilled, highest-paid migrants who make substantial contributions to tax revenues, nor the most disadvantaged groups that require substantial support'.
Epoch Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Home Office to Publish Nationalities of Foreign Criminals
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has, on Tuesday, ordered the Home Office to release detailed figures on foreign national offenders (FNOs) within the immigration system by the end of the year. Her decision will require a significant overhaul of the department's statistical processes after officials initially advised that compiling and publishing such data would be too complex. For the first time, the Home Office is expected to publish a breakdown of the nationalities of foreign criminals currently awaiting deportation from the UK. Under existing rules, There are currently Government sources anticipate that the data will highlight Albanians, Romanians, and Poles as the most represented nationalities among those awaiting deportation. Related Stories 10/16/2023 3/7/2023 The most common offences are expected to include drug production and supply, various types of theft and robbery and acts of violent assault. 'Any foreign national who abuses our hospitality by committing serious crimes should be in no doubt—they will face the full force of the law and be removed from the UK at the earliest opportunity. 'We are committed to ensuring the public is better informed about the number of foreign criminals awaiting deportation, their countries of origin, and the crimes they have committed. This is why, for the first time, ministers have directed officials to produce a broader range of data on this group and to publish it in a transparent manner,' a Home Office spokesperson said. Rising Numbers Official statistics reveal that the number of FNOs awaiting deportation rose to 19,244 by the end of 2024, up from 17,907 when the Conservative government left office in July, and significantly higher than the 14,640 recorded at the end of 2022. This increase comes despite The Home Office is currently upgrading its Once completed, officials say the new system will allow for more detailed and accurate statistical releases, potentially starting by the end of 2025. Until then, further breakdowns—such as offence types and nationalities—will be published as 'experimental statistics'. Political Pressure The announcement follows sustained pressure from opposition figures to disclose more information on migrant crime. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick welcomed the news, adding that the British public 'deserve the truth about migrant crime and the costs of low-skilled immigration.' 'The cover-up is coming to an end. We'll finally see the hard reality—that mass migration is fuelling crime across our country,' he said. The Conservative minister has long campaigned for greater transparency on this issue. Last year, he 'Following over a year of pressure from campaigners—including my own attempt to change the law—it appears there's been a breakthrough.' Jenrick Shadow home secretary Chris Philp Home Office officials have cautioned that detailed breakdowns will depend on the successful completion of system upgrades and the resolution of data recording gaps. Quicker Deportation Pledge Foreign inmates make up around 12 percent of the prison population across England and Wales. Last month the government Prisons minister James Timpson said it was unacceptable for taxpayers to fund the detention of foreign criminals. Since elected into government, Labour removed 2,580 foreign criminals, a 23 percent increase on the same period 12 months prior. 'Under this government removals are up by nearly a quarter. We're now taking action to ensure this is done swifter, easing pressure on overcrowded prisons and on the public purse,' said Timpson. PA Media contributed to this report.
Wales Online
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Pub hours to be extended across country this summer if football teams do well
Pub hours to be extended across country this summer if football teams do well The Home Office has announced special measures for pubs this summer Wales fans watching the national team in the pub Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am if England or Wales reach the semi-finals or final of the Uefa Women's European Championships, the Home Office has announced. Closing hours will be put back from the usual 11pm cut off so football fans can get extra time together to celebrate, if either home nation reaches the final stages of the Women's Euros in July. Licensing hours can be relaxed to mark an occasion of "exceptional national significance" and England's Lionesses are defending champions while Wales have qualified for the competition for the first time. Both teams have been drawn in the same group, alongside France and the Netherlands. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said: "Nothing quite brings people together like watching our national football teams, which is why we want fans to be able to enjoy every minute of these matches. "We will extend licensing hours should either team progress through the tournament, to allow supporters to watch and celebrate together for longer. Article continues below "I want to wish the best of luck to both teams and let's hope for some more memorable nights this summer." She added: "This summer marks a historic milestone for Welsh football as the women's national team head to their first ever major international tournament. It's a remarkable achievement that all of Wales can be incredibly proud of and we all remember the Welsh men's team qualifying for their own Euros semi-finals in 2016. "Welsh pubs have long been at the heart of communities across the nation, bringing people together to celebrate their sporting heroes. That's why I'm delighted to announce that should Wales progress to the later stages of the tournament, pubs can keep their doors open for an additional two hours. "From Cardiff to Conwy, supporters have a chance to come together and potentially witness Welsh footballing history being made. I hope this extension will give them more opportunity to create that famous Welsh atmosphere in pubs throughout the country as they cheer on the team. "Pob lwc i Gymru! Good luck Wales!" The semi-finals take place on July 22 and July 23 while the final kicks off on July 27. Any home nation glory on the pitch could also see success for the hospitality industry which has welcomed the move to keep the doors open for longer. The announcement is being made now ahead of the tournament - in Switzerland from July 2 to 27 - so pubs can sort out stock and staffing. It also gives enough time to arrange the statutory instruments needed potentially to extend opening hours before Parliament's summer recess. Night Time Industries Association chief executive Michael Kill described the extended hours as "a positive and progressive move that recognises the growing popularity of women's football and its cultural significance across the UK". He said: "Much like previous extensions for national celebrations, this decision will give communities the opportunity to come together and celebrate in a safe and responsible way, while also providing a welcome boost to the night-time economy. "It represents a valuable opportunity for hospitality businesses to maximise trade during a major event - particularly important in today's extremely challenging economic climate." British Beer and Pub Association chief executive Emma McClarkin said: "The pub is the home of live sport. "Nothing compares when it comes to bringing atmosphere and camaraderie to watching the football live, and we expect supporters will be flocking to their local to cheer on our brilliant teams. "Our sector plays a huge part in boosting community spirit, and extending licensing hours means people can gather for longer and host even more events that cheer on our squads." Billing the pub as "the best place to watch the Women's Euros", UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: "The success of the Lionesses, in particular, has captured the heart of the nation and I know communities will be flocking to the pub to cheer on both England and Wales. "I'm pleased the Government has acted early with this decision, which will help pubs plan their activity during the tournament." England will be hoping to defend the title they won at Wembley Stadium in July 2022 when they beat Germany in the final. The two home nations will face off during this year's tournament group stages on Sunday 13 July in St Gallen. England will face France on July 5 when Wales will play the Netherlands. On July 9 England will play the Netherlands while Wales's opponents will be the Netherlands. Article continues below Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate licensing regimes.
Wales Online
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
UK visa applications could be restricted for some nationalities in new crackdown
UK visa applications could be restricted for some nationalities in new crackdown The Home Office is reportedly considering restricting visa applications for people from countries including Pakistan, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, amid concerns over visa abuse The Home Office is reportedly considering making it more difficult for individuals to come to the UK for work or study. (Image: Getty ) Visa applications from nationalities deemed most likely to overstay and seek asylum in the UK could face restrictions under a new government crackdown. The Home Office is reportedly considering making it more difficult for individuals from countries such as Pakistan, Nigeria, and Sri Lanka to come to the UK for work or study. Ministers are particularly concerned about those who enter the UK legally on work or study visas and then file an asylum claim, which, if approved, would allow them to stay in the country permanently. A spokesperson for the Home Office said: "Our upcoming Immigration White Paper will set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system." Though it remains unclear which nationalities are most prone to overstaying their visas, as the Home Office has not released exit check statistics since 2020 due to a review of the data's accuracy. Many departures from the UK can go unrecorded, meaning that those without a departure record are not necessarily still in the country. Professor Jonathan Portes, a senior fellow at the academic think tank UK in a Changing Europe, suggested that the impact of visa restrictions on the number of asylum applications would be "likely to be quite small". He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I think the impact here is not designed primarily to be about numbers overall, it's designed to be about reducing asylum claims which are perceived to be abusive,". Article continues below "When you have someone who comes here ostensibly as a student and then switches quickly to the asylum route... that is an abuse of the system - the government is trying to reduce that." The most recent Home Office statistics reveal that over 108,000 individuals sought asylum in the UK last year, marking the highest level since records began in 1979. In total, Pakistani nationals made up the largest group claiming asylum, with 10,542 applications. This was followed by Sri Lankan nationals (2,862) and Nigerian nationals (2,841). Data for 2023/24 also indicates that there were 732,285 international students in the UK, with the majority hailing from India (107,480) and China (98,400). Since taking office last year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to curb both illegal and legal migration. However, he has previously refrained from setting a net migration target, arguing that an "arbitrary cap" has proven ineffective in the past. Labour's strategies to lower migration include criminalising actions that put lives at risk at sea, targeting small boat crossings, and reducing the demand for foreign hires by developing training plans for sectors currently dependent on migrant workers. Article continues below Sir Keir has lambasted the former Conservative government, accusing it of failing to achieve lower net migration numbers "by design, not accident".
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple-UK data privacy row should not be secret, court rules
The Home Office has failed in its bid to keep all the details of its data privacy legal row with Apple out of the public domain. The UK government wants the right to be able access information secured by Apple's Advanced Data Protection (ADP) system, citing powers given to it under the Investigatory Powers Act. At the moment Apple has no such capability - such data can only be accessed by the user - and says it does not want to create what it calls a "backdoor" into ADP because of concerns it could be used for criminal purposes. The government's request prompted fierce criticism from privacy campaigners and some US politicians. In February, Apple pulled ADP from the UK and in March launched legal proceedings against the government, in a case which is being heard by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. The government argued it would damage national security if the nature of the legal action - and the parties to it - were made public, what are known as the "bare details of the case". In a ruling published on Monday morning, the tribunal judges rejected that request - pointing to the extensive media reporting of the row and highlighting the legal principle of open justice. "It would have been a truly extraordinary step to conduct a hearing entirely in secret without any public revelation of the fact that a hearing was taking place," it states. "For the reasons that are set out in our private judgement, we do not accept that the revelation of the bare details of the case would be damaging to the public interest or prejudicial to national security," it later adds. The Home Office have been asked to comment but have yet to respond. What Apple pulling Advanced Data Protection means for you Pressure grows to hold secret Apple data privacy hearing in public Apple takes legal action in UK data privacy row
