Boris Johnson has announced plans to reduce unskilled migration to the UK if the Conservatives win the general election. The Prime Minister stated that the country needs to reduce the number of people arriving without jobs, who he claims put pressure on public services and lack the skills the economy demands.
Home Secretary Priti Patel echoed this commitment, saying the Tories would “look to reduce the numbers” through better immigration controls. However, she stopped short of setting specific targets, describing them as “arbitrary” and noting that such targets have eroded public confidence in the past.
Both Johnson and Patel reiterated the Conservatives’ plan for a points-based immigration system, which would apply to both EU and non-EU migrants. Under this system, applicants would be assigned points based on professional and personal characteristics, with higher points for traits like English proficiency.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called for a “fair immigration process” that recognises the contribution of migrant workers, while the SNP warned that cutting immigration would be “hugely damaging” for the Scottish economy. The Liberal Democrats described the Conservative approach as “an insult to the millions who have come to the UK and made it their home.”
Patel stated that reducing immigration overall can only happen if the Conservatives win a majority and leave the EU with a deal by 31 January 2021. The party’s previous pledge to cut net migration below 100,000 was not fulfilled, which Security Minister Brandon Lewis acknowledged had “let people down.”
