A Home Office assessment warns that Sir Keir Starmer’s immigration reforms could cost the UK up to £4.4 billion, mainly due to losses in university tuition fees, visa revenue, and income tax. The Labour government plans to tighten rules for international students, reducing post-study work rights from two years to 18 months and raising English language requirements for skilled workers. Employers will also face a one-third rise in the immigration skills charge. Critics, including Universities UK International, say the policy will undermine higher education and damage regional economies by deterring global talent. Former education secretary Alan Johnson cautioned the reforms could force universities to close. Experts argue that politicians focus too narrowly on reducing migration without recognising its benefits, such as tax and fee contributions. While net migration fell in 2024, Starmer’s rhetoric about immigration has sparked controversy, with comparisons to divisive past political language.
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