PM Acknowledges the Need for Action
After days of avoiding the issue, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has finally admitted that more needs to be done to tackle the high levels of migration in the UK. This comes in response to figures showing a record 745,000 people arrived in Britain last year, despite previous pledges from the Conservative party to reduce net migration.
Ministers Admit Failure to Honor Promises
Speaking at the Global Investment Summit, Sunak conceded that the government had not done enough to address the issue. He emphasized the need to bring migration down to more sustainable levels and expressed encouragement at recent data showing a slowdown in numbers. However, he acknowledged that further action is necessary.
Tory MPs Demand Higher Salary Threshold
Conservative MPs are calling for migrants to earn a minimum of £40,000 in order to be granted a visa, as a means of limiting the number of arrivals to highly skilled individuals. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman had secured Sunak's agreement to this condition during last year's leadership contest, but the deal was later reneged upon. Braverman's allies claim that she had also proposed several ideas to the Prime Minister to address the issue, which were ignored.
New Home Secretary Faces Criticism
James Cleverly, the successor to Suella Braverman as Home Secretary, is facing scrutiny today after downplaying the Rwanda plan to tackle illegal migration. Cleverly urged people not to focus solely on the flagship removal scheme, stating that it is not the only solution to ending the Channel crisis. Tory MPs are expected to raise concerns during a parliamentary questioning session.
Progress Made, but More Work to Do
While Sunak's spokesman highlighted significant progress in reducing boat crossings by a third year-on-year, he stressed that there is no one solution to the issue of migration. The government is taking action through bilateral returns agreements and increased cooperation with French counterparts. The Rwanda migration partnership is also seen as a crucial part of the overall strategy.
