Prime Minister Keir Starmer is preparing to announce stringent new immigration controls in the wake of Thursday’s local elections, as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party threatens to inflict heavy losses on Labour. The proposed measures come as Reform surges to 25% in national polling ahead of both Labour (23%) and the Conservatives (21%) with expectations the insurgent party could claim hundreds of council seats and potentially win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.
The forthcoming immigration white paper, due for release by mid-May, will target key migration routes including graduate visas, with plans to prevent foreign students from remaining in the UK by transferring to low-paid health and social care roles. Additional measures will see employers who breach labour laws barred from hiring overseas workers, while businesses may be required to train domestic staff before recruiting foreign labour for shortage occupations.
Labour’s shift reflects growing alarm at Reform’s appeal among traditional working class voters, with party peer Lord Glasman warning Labour will “get its head kicked in” unless it adopts tougher positions on immigration and national identity. The strategic pivot carries risks for Starmer’s growth agenda, as sectors like health and social care already facing chronic staff shortages could be further strained by reduced access to migrant labour.
The Prime Minister’s absence from campaigning in the bellwether Runcorn and Helsby contest has drawn sharp criticism from Farage, who interprets it as Labour conceding defeat. While Downing Street insists the immigration reforms have been in development since November, their imminent release underscores the government’s urgency to counter Reform’s anti-migration messaging before the political landscape shifts further.
With net migration still standing at 728,000 annually, Starmer faces the delicate task of satisfying public demand for tighter borders while maintaining economic growth a balancing act that could define his government’s fortunes as Reform establishes itself as a potent political force.
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