The UK Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has unveiled a bold overhaul of the country’s immigration system aimed at rebalancing the labour market, reducing reliance on foreign workers, and restoring public confidence.

Speaking ahead of the publication of the Government’s long-awaited Immigration White Paper, Cooper criticised the previous administration’s approach and set out a new “Plan for Change” designed to tighten rules and boost domestic skills.

“Migration must be properly controlled and managed so the system is fair,” Cooper stated.

“Instead, we’ve seen net migration quadruple in the space of just four years, driven especially by overseas recruitment.”

She argued that the former government had replaced free movement with “a free market experiment,” allowing employers too much freedom to recruit from abroad while neglecting investment in local training.

The result, she said, was a surge in overseas recruitment, an increase in economic inactivity within the UK, and a breakdown in public trust.

“This has undermined public confidence, distorted our labour market, and been really damaging for both our immigration system and our economy,” she added.

“Under our Plan for Change, we are taking decisive action to restore control and order to the immigration system, raise domestic training and skills, and bring down net migration while promoting economic growth.”

Only jobs that require degree-level qualifications will be eligible for work visas, with a significant increase in the minimum salary threshold needed to qualify. This move is designed to reduce low-skilled immigration and ensure that only high-value roles are filled by overseas talent.

Crackdown on Lower-Skilled Work Visas

Visas for lower-skilled jobs will be granted only in rare, exceptional cases of major shortages. Even then, they will be tightly controlled, and companies must demonstrate that they are also investing in training UK workers.

Creation of an Expert Panel

A new independent panel will be established to monitor industries that rely heavily on foreign labour. Its goal is to challenge these sectors to reduce dependence on overseas recruitment and invest more in domestic workforce development.

Companies that wish to sponsor overseas workers will now be required to submit detailed plans showing how they intend to address labour shortages locally. This could include raising wages, offering apprenticeships, or increasing training opportunities for UK residents.

Reforms to Student and Family Visas

While specific details are yet to be released, changes are expected in visa categories for students and family members. The government has indicated the reforms will focus on “control, contribution, and community cohesion.” (Vanguard)