1 hour ago CHRISTINA MCANEA: 'Care sector would have collapsed years ago without overseas workers'

UNISON General Secretary Christina McAnea writes for The Mirror as Keir Starmer's government announces major changes to immigration rules for care workers

Politics

4 h. ago ‘Cheap foreign labour’ – this is how Keir Starmer denigrates the migrant carers looking after your loved ones

The government’s claims about immigration driving down wages are so demonstrably untrue, it’s hard to feel the appropriate level of outrage I would love to know what exactly happens, in the top-level meetings where the prime minister decides to be even tougher on immigration. Is there anyone in there saying: “This will not halt Reform. This will not make Reform less obnoxious. This will not make them more moderate, and it will not stop people voting for them. All it will do is make your own supporters despair.” If there is, are they screaming it, or whispering it, with a thousand-yard stare?It’s bad enough that the government has swallowed this anti-immigrant rhetoric wholesale; that it’s decided to land its misdirected toughness on the care workers is dumb on so many levels. First, Starmer’s claim that that migrant care workers are “cheap foreign labour”. Pause to note how extraordinary it is, to hear this kind of denigratory language coming from a human-rights lawyer. It is also u...

Events

4 h. ago Voices: ‘This will be disastrous’: Independent readers fear social care collapse after visa ban

Our community is sharply divided over Yvette Cooper’s care worker visa crackdown. While some labelled it “madness”, others argued it is time to reduce reliance on overseas labour and invest in training and better pay for UK workers

Events

6 h. ago Visas for foreign care workers: What the latest figures show

Indian nationals accounted for about one in five of care worker visas granted in 2023-24.

Economics

6 h. ago Labour MP says Starmer’s ‘island of strangers’ warning over immigration mimics scaremongering of far right – UK politics live

PM unveils new policies meant to drive down net migration by end of this parliamentQ: If you want to grow the economy, won’t these plans make it harder because it will be more difficult for people to get UK citizenship?Starmer says he does not accept the argument that high immigration is always good for growth. The last government had high immigration but stagnant growth.I promise that [net migration] will fall significantly, and I do want to get it down by the end of this parliament, significantly. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Visas crackdown: New rules for foreign workers and higher salary thresholds revealed in immigration shake

Restricted permits for low skilled jobs, new rules for family visas, higher wage requirements and degrees needed for foreign workers are among the measures revealed

Economics

7 h. ago Care homes will close thanks to Starmer’s immigration crackdown, providers warn

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced the closure of the care worker visa for overseas recruitment as part of the government's immigration reforms

Events

9 h. ago Keir Starmer claims soaring immigration has done ‘incalculable’ damage to UK, economically and politically – UK politics live

PM unveils new policies meant to drive down net migration by end of this parliamentQ: If you want to grow the economy, won’t these plans make it harder because it will be more difficult for people to get UK citizenship?Starmer says he does not accept the argument that high immigration is always good for growth. The last government had high immigration but stagnant growth.I promise that [net migration] will fall significantly, and I do want to get it down by the end of this parliament, significantly. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Labour's immigration white paper: Key points explained — from faster deportations to axing care worker visas

Prime Minister unveils plans to make it harder for foreigners to permanently settle in the UK

Economics

11 h. ago Keir Starmer promises net migration will fall ‘significantly’ by end of this parliament – UK politics live

PM says policies will ‘take back control’ of migration as promised, but not delivered, by Tory BrexitersWhat change in rules means for migrants and employersQ: If you want to grow the economy, won’t these plans make it harder because it will be more difficult for people to get UK citizenship?Starmer says he does not accept the argument that high immigration is always good for growth. The last government had high immigration but stagnant growth.I promise that [net migration] will fall significantly, and I do want to get it down by the end of this parliament, significantly. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Keir Starmer to announce new measures to ‘tighten up’ immigration system – UK politics live

Prime minster to unveil immigration white paper that he claimes will be ‘clean break from past’What change in rules means for migrants and employersThe Conservatives have rejected suggestions that Keir Starmer is being tough on immigration. In a statement released overnight in response to the briefing about the white paper plans, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said:Keir Starmer pretends to be tough, but just weeks ago his MPs voted against our 10-year residency and economic contribution test for indefinite leave to remain. Now he says that immigrants who make no contribution should still be allowed to stay.He is trying to take steal credit for recent substantial reductions in visa numbers that resulted from Conservative reforms in April 2024.International recruitment is a lifeline for the homecare sector, enabling us to provide vital support to older and disabled people in their own homes. Care providers are already struggling to recruit within the UK. We are deeply concern...

Politics

12 h. ago Labour's immigration crackdown: key points explained — from faster deportations to axing care worker visas

The Prime Minister will unveil plans to make it harder for foreigners to permanently settle in the UK

Economics

15 h. ago Trump's reshaping of higher education tests America's appeal for international students

The durability of the America's appeal for international students is facing a test under the Trump administration, which has ramped up scrutiny of student visas and moved to deport foreign students for involvement in pro-Palestinian activism

Politics

21 h. ago Migrants will have to spend decade in UK before applying to stay

Government to also end visas for care workers as part of immigration clampdown

Events

28 h. ago Industry and union attack plans to ban overseas care worker recruitment

Care England has labelled the change a ‘crushing blow to an already fragile sector’.

Events

31 h. ago UK to end visas for care workers as part of immigration clampdown

Employers’ ability to recruit staff from overseas for lower-skilled jobs will be restricted

Economics

32 h. ago Care homes face ban on recruiting workers from abroad in huge visa crackdown

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government will close the care worker visa route to end the reliance on overseas staff in a crackdown on immigration unveiled on Monday

Economics

32 h. ago 'Absolute folly': John Swinney slams plans to overhaul immigration and axe care worker visas

The Labour UK government is to set out its plans on immigration, including ending care worker visas and reducing low-skilled visas.

Economics

33 h. ago Government to close care worker visa for overseas recruitment, says Cooper

Ministers are due to publish their Immigration White Paper on Monday.

Politics

3 d. ago Keir Starmer's government has spent £566,000 on foreign visas for civil servants so far this year

EXCLUSIVE: FOI data showed Sir Keir Starmer 's government spent at least £566,000 on visas for foreign nationals in the first eight months after last July's election.

Economics