IMMIGRATION

We want to have a fair and progressive immigration system that balances security for UK workers, the needs of the country, the skills migrants can bring, and accounts for the UK’s declining birth rate. Our aim is to employ all UK workers seeking a job first - in public sector, private sector, or Job Guarantee jobs - and any remaining vacancies should be then be open to applicants from abroad, so we will not impose an arbitrary cap at a particular number as the needs of the country will change year-to-year. This is sensible and fair. We do not, and cannot, back a blanket ban on immigration, due to the UK’s declining birth rate, as a certain amount of immigration will be required just to keep the population number stable. A blanket ban would mean forcing people into jobs they don’t want to do in order to fill critical gaps and we oppose such a draconian overreach. Any politician claiming otherwise is either lying or has no grasp of reality.

• Employers will be expected to recruit from the current labour pool as a priority. Only once they can prove they have made significant efforts to recruit domestically and have been unable to find anyone with the required skill level or who could not be trained on the job, will they be allowed to recruit from abroad.

• We will prioritise migrants based on skills, qualifications, and labour market needs in a similar manner to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

• We will fast-track visas for strategically-important sectors with critical shortages.

• We would allow devolved and local governments (e.g. Scotland, Northern England) to sponsor migrants based on regional economic needs.

• Encourage innovation by offering visas to founders and investors who create jobs outside of London and the South East.

• Reduce backlog by increasing caseworkers and ensuring timely decisions within 6 months.

• Stop small boat crossings by providing safe and legal routes to claim asylum.

• Expand refugee resettlement programs (beyond just Afghanistan/Hong Kong/Ukraine) and allow family reunification.

• Replace hotels with community-based housing while claims are processed, and allow them to work while their claims are processed.

• Improve support for refugees’ integration through partnerships with NGOs, charities and councils e.g. English and cultural lessons, meet-and-greets with local communities etc.

• Allow spouses, children, and elderly dependents to join settled migrants more easily. If they are subject to our laws, they are also subject to our protections including the right to a family life.

• Clear, achievable routes to citizenship (e.g. 3 years for skilled workers, 5 for refugees).

• Prevent sudden visa fee hikes or rule changes that disrupt settled migrants.

• Allow long-term temporary workers (e.g., 5+ years) to apply for settlement.

• Stronger enforcement against workplace/housing discrimination.

• Avoid actively recruiting from nations with severe skill shortages (e.g., doctors from poor countries).

• Develop protections for those displaced by climate disasters.

• Target exploitative employers, not workers, with heavy fines for illegal underpayment or unsafe conditions.

• End the ‘Hostile Environment’ policies that deny healthcare/housing to vulnerable migrants.

• A public education campaign about our legal and international obligations towards migrants and asylum seekers, what they actually receive etc. to counter the tsunami of disinformation that is spread about them.

Our immigration policy will:

• Prioritise British workers by requiring employers to hire locally first, nationally second, and then from abroad.

• Boost the economy by filling remaining labour gaps.

• Protect refugees and stop the boats through safe and legal routes.

• Ensure fairness with clear, humane rules.

• Promote integration for long-term cohesion.