Controlling immigration

By Sir John Redwood on May 12, 2025

Today we are promised a paper from the Home Secretary to reduce migration. She has the advantage that last year the Conservative government raised the amount you needed to earn to get a work permit and cut back on student dependents.

The two largest categories of migrants remain people getting work permits and students. The numbers get swollen by allowing dependents, by granting students a transfer to a work visa, and by people failing to return home when their visa runs out.

We hear the government might ask for a degree level qualification, cutting out lower pay and lower skilled jobs. There might be an A level requirement for English. These changes are unlikely to make much difference to numbers. Last year brought a net increase of 728,000. It would be good to get net numbers down to near zero to relieve pressures on homes and public services.

It is going to take tougher controls than are likely from this Home Secretary.