London: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has slammed the brakes on immigration. Once a staunch defender of free movement, the Labour leader is now delivering the toughest migration crackdown in a generation, promising to slash numbers and reshape Britain’s borders.

His plan is simple: fewer arrivals, tougher conditions and a new vision of “contribution over entitlement”.

It’s a sharp political pivot aimed at quieting a populist wave and winning back working-class voters, but the question remains: Will it work, or is Starmer simply playing catch-up to the far-right’s anti-immigration agenda?

Keir Starmer’s gambit is as much about appeasing the electorate as reshaping Britain’s post-Brexit identity.Credit: Bloomberg

This new migration policy is more than a mere adjustment; it’s a statement of intent. Under Starmer’s proposals, foreign workers will face stricter English-language tests, dependents will be required to speak English, and there will be a decade-long wait for permanent residency.

The government is also narrowing visa routes, slashing post-study work opportunities for international students, and even taking aim at human rights laws to expedite deportations. For a party once synonymous with openness, this is a profound shift – one that plays directly into the hands of populist rhetoric, which has surged in recent years.

The numbers tell the story. Since Brexit, Britain........

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