Speech

PM speech on migration: 28 November 2024

Prime Minister Keir Starmer makes a speech on migration at 10 Downing Street.

From:
Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP
Published
28 November 2024
Location:
10 Downing Street
Delivered on:
(Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)
The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

When we came into office 바카라 사이트“ we immediately conducted an audit of public finances바카라 사이트¦Â 

And we found a £22 billion black hole. 

Now 바카라 사이트“ the independent Office of National Statistics has conducted vital work on the state of immigration바카라 사이트¦Â 

[Political content redacted]

As the ONS sets out바카라 사이트¦Â 

Nearly one million people came to Britain in the year ending June 2023바카라 사이트¦

That is four times the migration levels compared with 2019. 

[Political content redacted]

But what we didn바카라 사이트™t hear바카라 사이트¦

What the British people are owed바카라 사이트¦Â 

Is an explanation. 

Because a failure on this scale isn바카라 사이트™t just bad luck바카라 사이트¦Â 

It isn바카라 사이트™t a global trend바카라 사이트¦Â 

Or taking your eye off the ball. 

No 바카라 사이트“ this a different order of failure. 

This happened by design, not accident.

Policies were reformed바카라 사이트¦

Deliberately 바카라 사이트¦

To liberalise immigration. 

Brexit was used for that purpose바카라 사이트¦

To turn Britain into a one-nation experiment in open borders바카라 사이트¦

Global Britain 바카라 사이트“ remember that slogan바카라 사이트¦

That is what they meant. 

A policy with no support바카라 사이트¦Â 

[Political content redacted]

Well that바카라 사이트™s unforgivable. 

And mark my words 바카라 사이트“ this government will turn the page. 

That begins in the economy바카라 사이트¦Â 

Because you cannot separate this failure바카라 사이트¦Â 

From their refusal to do the hard yards on skills바카라 사이트¦

On welfare reform바카라 사이트¦

On giving our young people opportunities바카라 사이트¦Â 

Rather than the easy answers of looking overseas. 

Because clearly 바카라 사이트“ the vast majority of people who entered this country did so to plug gaps in our workforce.

Skills shortages across the country바카라 사이트¦

Which have left our economy hopelessly reliant on immigration바카라 사이트¦

2.8 million people out of work on long-term sickness 바카라 사이트“ a problem ignored, left to fester. 

One in 8 young people not in employment or education or training.

Sectors of our economy, like engineering바카라 사이트¦

Where apprenticeships have almost halved in the last decade, while visas have doubled.

So we are taking a different approach. 

We will publish a White Paper imminently 바카라 사이트“ which sets out a plan to reduce immigration. 

The Migration Advisory Committee is already conducting a review바카라 사이트¦Â 

And where we find clear evidence of sectors that are over reliant on immigration바카라 사이트¦Â Â 

We will reform the points-based system바카라 사이트¦

And make sure that applications for the relevant visa routes바카라 사이트¦Â 

Whether it바카라 사이트™s the skilled worker route, or the shortage occupation list바카라 사이트¦Â 

Will now come with new expectations on training people here in our country. 

We will also crack down on any abuse of the visa routes바카라 사이트¦

For far too long, we바카라 사이트™ve been casual about malpractice in our labour market바카라 사이트¦Â 

Which sends a clear signal, overseas바카라 사이트¦Â 

That we are soft touch. 

Well 바카라 사이트“ no more. 

Our rules will be enforced.

Any employers who refuse to play ball바카라 사이트¦Â 

They will be banned from hiring overseas labour.  

And I바카라 사이트™m pleased to announce today바카라 사이트¦

A new security agreement between Iraq and the UK바카라 사이트¦Â 

This is a world-first바카라 사이트¦Â 

That will help us smash the people smuggling gangs바카라 사이트¦

And secure our borders. 

The Home Secretary has been out in Iraq to seal this deal바카라 사이트¦Â 

And we바카라 사이트™ve also announced funding for Iraqi law enforcement바카라 사이트¦

To tackle this problem up-stream바카라 사이트¦

Way before it reaches our shores. 

We바카라 사이트™re also tackling the utter mess we inherited in the Home Office바카라 사이트¦Â 

Asylum returns 바카라 사이트“ up 53% in the last 12 months compared with the previous year. 

Total returns 바카라 사이트“ up 34% in the last year.

And we will keep on going. 

Because this is the work of change. 

And alongside the NHS and the economy바카라 사이트¦

Securing our borders is the issue that matters to working people.  

You know, what people want from politics 바카라 사이트“ is not unreasonable바카라 사이트¦

They want order and security.

Borders that we control. 

An NHS that protects you. 

An economy that offers secure work and good opportunities. 

Not just for a few at the top, but for everyone.

Let me say directly to people watching바카라 사이트¦

[Political content redacted]

It won바카라 사이트™t be quick or easy 바카라 사이트“ but we are going to turn things around바카라 사이트¦Â 

Not with gimmicks, but with graft.

A government that will not rest바카라 사이트¦

Until the foundations are fixed바카라 사이트¦

Borders are secure바카라 사이트¦

And Britain is rebuilt.

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 28 November 2024