The UK's Labour government is facing sharp criticism over its proposed immigration reforms, with migrant workers and British citizens warning the plans represent "performative policymaking" that will deepen uncertainty and hardship.
‘Performative policymaking’ that targets migrants
In a powerful intervention, Rev Dr Rebekah E Sims, a skilled worker visa holder, has accused the government of crafting policy to appease nationalist sentiment. The proposals, titled "A fairer pathway to settlement," would make life more "cumbersome and expensive" for visa holders, she argues.
The plans could delay the time it takes to gain indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and introduce new qualification criteria. Rev Dr Sims, based in Lancaster, contends this will actively impair integration and treat migrant workers as a "convenient political football."
"We cannot vote, but we are a constituency whose needs and contributions matter," she writes, highlighting that migrant workers are essential in teaching, healthcare, research, and other key sectors.
Families face prolonged uncertainty and soaring costs
The concerns extend beyond work visas to family life. A British citizen, who is married to a non-UK spouse, describes the profound personal impact of the shifting policy landscape.
Having returned to the UK in 2021 and invested thousands of pounds in visa fees and the NHS surcharge, the family expected to apply for ILR this year. Now, new proposals risk adding an extra five years to their settlement pathway and imposing earnings tests that are unattainable for full-time caregivers.
"For families with British children, this means prolonged years of uncertainty and cost, with the very prospect of belonging continually moved further away," the reader states.
A changing notion of British identity
This policy shift coincides with worrying research on national identity. A study by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) showed the proportion of people who believe one must be born in the UK to be "truly British" nearly doubled from 19% in 2023 to 36% by late 2025.
The anonymous reader connects this directly to policy, arguing that when society equates Britishness with birthplace, "policies that undermine legal residents are all too easily normalised."
A public consultation on the "earned settlement" proposals remains open until 12 February 2025. Rev Dr Sims is urging UK settled residents and citizens to respond thoughtfully to advocate for their migrant neighbours, friends, and colleagues.
"Britain needs an immigration policy that meets both labour market needs and the UK’s humanitarian obligations," she concludes. "Do not be fooled: the current proposal under consultation does neither."
