In 2024, net migration to the U.K. saw a significant decline, dropping nearly 50% to an estimated 431,000, the largest percentage decrease since 2020.

Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer has proposed further reforms to immigration policies, including stricter criteria for work and study visas and higher English language requirements, potentially reducing net migration by an additional 100,000 annually.

Starmer's government also plans to ban the recruitment of overseas care workers and implement longer residency requirements for migrants seeking permanent residency.

Recent data indicates a decrease in asylum seekers in hotels, from over 38,000 in December 2024 to approximately 32,000 by March 2025, although this remains higher than levels seen under the previous Labour government.

Despite these efforts, the immigration debate continues to be intensified by unauthorized arrivals, with around 37,000 asylum seekers crossing the English Channel last year, which are not included in the official net migration figures.

This reduction is largely attributed to new visa rule changes aimed at limiting work and study visa arrivals, alongside an increase in departures among individuals on student visas following the easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

In parallel, the Home Office has accelerated the processing of asylum claims, aiming to reduce the number of asylum seekers housed in taxpayer-funded hotels.

Downing Street has expressed confidence that the decline in net migration will not lead to workforce shortages, emphasizing a strategy to enhance domestic skills alongside immigration controls.

However, concerns persist among businesses, particularly in sectors like healthcare, which faces a significant shortage of workers, exacerbated by tightened immigration rules.

Starmer has raised concerns about societal integration, stressing the importance of better assimilation to prevent the U.K. from becoming an 'island of strangers'.

Critics within and outside the Labour Party have condemned Starmer's rhetoric on immigration, warning that it risks alienating progressive voters and echoing divisive historical language.

The political landscape remains complex, with the Conservatives claiming credit for the decline in net migration while Labour grapples with public dissatisfaction over welfare issues and immigration policies.