Mon May 12 12:38:13 UTC 2025: ## UK Prime Minister Announces Stricter Immigration Policies
**London, May 12, 2025** – United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a significant tightening of immigration policies today, unveiling a White Paper that will impact numerous migrants, including those from India. The new measures, if passed into law, aim to reduce net migration by the 2029 election, though no specific target was given.
Key changes include extending the time to permanent residency from five to ten years in some cases, increasing English language proficiency requirements, and closing the social care visa route. The government also plans to raise the threshold for skilled-worker visas to the graduate level and increase high-talent visa availability.
Starmer justified the changes by stating his government’s intent to “take back control” of immigration, echoing the Brexit slogan. He cited record-high immigration under the previous Conservative government (over 906,000 in the year ending June 2023) as a reason for the crackdown. The announcement follows recent electoral gains by the nativist Reform UK party, suggesting public concern over immigration and living costs.
However, the move has drawn criticism. Care England, an industry body, condemned the decision to end overseas recruitment for social care jobs, claiming it will harm an already struggling sector. Political opponents also criticized the policy, viewing it as a politically motivated strategy. The Green Party’s Carla Denyer suggested the policy wouldn’t save the Labour Party from electoral defeat. The impact on Indian nationals currently working in the UK under visas targeted by the White Paper remains to be seen. The White Paper will now be tabled in parliament.
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