UK’s Starmer pledges big drop in immigration

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer yesterday promised to cut net migration to Britain significantly over the next four years, saying greater control was needed to maintain social cohesion and drive investment in the local workforce.

Controlling immigration was a key factor in Britain's 2016 vote to leave the European Union, yet net arrivals have quadrupled since it left the bloc, helping boost the popularity of Nigel Farage's right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK party.

Starmer said nations depend on rules that set out rights, responsibilities and obligations, and that without them Britain risked "becoming an island of strangers".

He said his new plan meant migration would fall sharply by the end of this parliament in 2029.

"That's a promise, but I want to be very clear on this, if we do need to take further steps, if we do need to do more to release pressure on housing and our public services, then mark my words, we will," he told a press conference at his Downing Street office.