Keir Starmer pledges to slash ‘sky high’ migration numbers underneath a Labour authorities | EUROtoday

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Keir Starmer has promised to slash immigration from ‘sky high’ numbers if Labour wins the election.

The Labour chief mentioned final yr’s internet migration determine of 685,000 has “got to come down” and vowed to “control our borders and make sure British businesses are helped to hire Brits first”.

He additionally hit out at successive Conservative governments for promising however failing to chop numbers.

But the transfer dangers a backlash from sections inside his personal get together.

Labour got here underneath hearth from its personal activists in 2015 after it launched a branded mug that promised “Controls on immigration”.

The migration plan shall be a part of Labour’s election manifesto.

Included shall be new legal guidelines to ban law-breaking employers from hiring overseas staff and to coach extra Britons.

A Labour authorities would bar bosses who break employment regulation – for instance by failing to pay staff the minimal wage – from hiring workers from abroad.

It would additionally legislate to hyperlink the immigration system to coaching, with companies making use of for overseas employee visas having to additionally practice Britons to do the roles.

But Sir Keir declined to set out a goal stage for internet migrant numbers – or a timeline.

The immigration debate has been fuelled by the newest figures, which had been revealed a day after Rishi Sunak known as the shock election date.

Sir Keir informed The Sun on Sunday: “Read my lips – I will bring immigration numbers down.

“If you belief me with the keys to No 10 I’ll make you this promise: I’ll management our borders and ensure British companies are helped to rent Brits first.”

He added: “This is a modified Labour Party again within the service of working individuals.

“That means not just talking about sky-high migration but acting on it.”

He mentioned the 685,000 migration quantity is “the second highest on record” and “it’s got to come down”.

“I’m not going to duck the challenge.”

Sir Keir mentioned employers have turn into “too reliant” on staff from abroad and “should always have a choice of recruiting a British worker first”.

The Migration Advisory Committee, Industrial Strategy Council and Skills England could be introduced collectively to hold out the plan.

Sir Keir mentioned this may additionally assist scale back the advantages invoice.

The Labour chief hit out at successive Conservative governments for failing to chop numbers.

“The Conservatives repeatedly say they are going to cut these numbers,” Sir Keir mentioned. “They have never done it. They have completely failed.

“They have by no means had a method to cope with it.”