Starmer immigration speech live: PM to unveil stricter migration rules at Downing Street press conference

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Sir Keir Starmer will on Monday announce a raft of new measures in a bid to cut down immigration into the UK

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to announce new measures designed to slash net migration, as migrants will be told they must learn English and earn the privilege to live in the UK.

The prime minister will give a speech on Monday morning to say every area of the UK’s “broken” immigration system will be tightened up at the same time a new migration white paper is unveiled.

Under the plans, skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.

Migrants will be told they need to spend a decade in the UK before they can apply for citizenship and English language requirements will be increased

“This is a clean break from the past and will ensure settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right,” he will say.

The move come after Labour lost the Runcorn and Helsby by-election to Reform MP Sarah Pochin in a major boost to Nigel Farage’s party earlier this month.

Legal as well as illegal immigration featured heavily in the recent local elections, where Reform won 10 councils and almost 700 seats.

Starmer to give speech this morning

Sir Keir Starmer will be holding an early morning press conference on Monday morning as he announces a government’s crackdown on immigration.

The prime minister will hold a press conference at around 8:30am.

His speech will happen at the same time the Immigration White Paper, is set to be unveiled on Monday.

What are the new rules Starmer is announcing?

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing to announce sweeping new measures to reform the UK’s immigration system.

Here is a look at what reforms are being proposed:

- The prime minister said those coming to the UK will have to “earn the right” to stay.

- Migrants must commit to integration and learning English.

- A wait of 10 years, not five, to apply for permanent residency – unless someone can prove a significant contribution.

- A ban on recruiting care workers from overseas.

- Adult dependents will have to prove they understand basic English.

Athena Stavrou12 May 2025 07:36

Keir Starmer says migrants will have to ‘earn the right’ to live in UK as part of new crackdown

Migrants will be told they need to spend up to a decade in the UK before they can apply for citizenship and English language requirements will be increased as part of the Government’s immigration crackdown.

Sir Keir Starmer will promise to “tighten up” all elements of the system as ministers look to bring down net figures, but are facing pushback against plans to stop foreign recruitment of care workers.

The Prime Minister is expected to say that “enforcement will be tougher than ever and migration numbers will fall” as a result of the policies in the Immigration White Paper, set to be unveiled on Monday.