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UK Unveils ‘Radical’ Migration Shake-Up Aimed at Sharp Reduction
Published: 23:30, 10 May 2025
London, UK – In a major policy announcement published late today on the official Gov.uk website, the UK government unveiled a package of “radical reforms” to the immigration system, explicitly aimed at significantly reducing overall net migration numbers. The measures, described by ministers as essential for controlling borders and ensuring immigrants contribute fully to the UK economy, represent a significant tightening of routes for work and family visas.
The announcement, coming after a period of intense political debate surrounding recent high migration figures, outlines several key changes set to reshape who can come to the UK and under what conditions.
Key Measures Announced:
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Significant Increase in Skilled Worker Salary Threshold: The minimum salary required for most skilled workers sponsoring a visa is set to see a substantial rise. While the exact new figure was not immediately specified in the summary, government sources indicated it would be significantly higher than the previous threshold, potentially impacting sectors like healthcare, hospitality, and construction that rely on overseas labour at various skill levels. The government argues this change will prevent undercutting of UK wages and ensure only the “brightest and best” skilled workers are recruited.
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Restrictions on Dependants: Further limitations are being placed on the ability of visa holders to bring family members (spouses, partners, children) with them to the UK. Building on previous changes affecting student visas, the reforms are understood to specifically target the Health and Care Worker visa route, which has seen a large number of dependants accompanying main applicants. This measure is intended to reduce the overall numbers entering the country and potentially ease pressure on housing and public services.
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Review and Potential Reform of the Shortage Occupation List (or its replacement): The system used to identify jobs where migrant workers can be sponsored at slightly lower salary thresholds due to domestic labour shortages is under review. The government announcement suggests this list will be drastically shortened or reformed entirely, making it harder for employers to recruit overseas staff for roles no longer deemed to be in critical shortage across the entire UK.
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Tighter Rules for Family Visas: While details are still emerging, the announcement indicates that requirements for sponsoring family members to join individuals already in the UK will also be tightened. This could involve further increases to the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a partner, or other measures designed to ensure families can support themselves without relying on public funds.
Government Rationale and Expectations:
Speaking following the announcement, the Home Secretary stated, “These radical reforms are not about closing Britain’s borders, but about taking firm control. We are delivering on our promise to the British people to reduce unsustainable levels of migration, ensure our public services are not overwhelmed, and protect the wages of hard-working Britons.”
The Prime Minister added, “We are building a high-wage, high-skill economy. These changes will ensure that employers invest in training and recruiting domestic workers first, and that our immigration system is fair, controlled, and serves the national interest. We expect these measures to lead to a significant reduction in net migration figures in the coming years.”
The government projects that these changes, once fully implemented, could reduce net migration by hundreds of thousands annually compared to recent peak figures, though specific projected numbers were not detailed in the initial summary.
Implementation Timeline:
The announcement indicated that the majority of these reforms will come into effect in phases over the next few months, with some changes potentially taking force as early as late Spring or early Summer 2025, following necessary legal procedures. Businesses and individuals are urged to check the official guidance on Gov.uk for specific start dates and detailed requirements.
Context and Reaction:
The reforms come against a backdrop of record or near-record net migration figures recorded in the years leading up to 2025, which had become a significant political issue. The government has been under pressure to demonstrate control over immigration numbers, a key promise made in previous elections and referendums.
Initial reactions from various sectors are expected to be mixed. Business groups and some healthcare bodies may express concern about potential labour shortages and the ability to recruit essential staff. Universities and the higher education sector may monitor the impact on international student numbers if further indirect measures affect this route. Opposition parties are likely to scrutinise the details, potentially arguing the measures are either too harsh and damage the economy or do not go far enough to deliver promised reductions. Immigration charities and human rights groups are expected to raise concerns about the potential impact on individuals and families.
Further details on each specific reform and their exact implementation dates are expected to be published on Gov.uk in the coming days and weeks.
Radical reforms to reduce migration
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The following question was used to generate the response from Google Gemini:
At 2025-05-10 23:30, ‘Radical reforms to reduce migration’ was published according to UK News and communications. Please write a detailed article with related information in an easy-to-understand manner. Please answer in English.
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