The politics of immigration have yet to catch up with the new reality of falling numbers, confirmed in new Home Office immigration figures, British Future said today (27 February). There was a sharp fall in work visas, particularly for those coming to work in the NHS and social care, with 27,000 ‘Health and Care Worker’ visas granted in 2024, 81% fewer than the peak in 2023.
Sunder Katwala, Director of British Future, said:
“Immigration to Britain is now falling, with today’s figures showing a striking drop in health and social care visas in particular. May’s net migration stats will confirm this downward trend – and will surprise most of the public. After July’s general election, just 12% said they expected net migration to fall.
“The politics of immigration have yet to catch up with this new reality. Keir Starmer’s government should not compete in a public auction with the Conservatives or Reform on who can call for the lowest number. He is constrained by the fact that the government has to deliver, not just make promises.
‘Starmer should use this spring’s Immigration White Paper to clarify his government’s objectives on immigration. That should include an annual plan, like the budget, which reflects voters’ desire for control of immigration with public recognition of the contribution it can make to much-needed economic growth.”
The new Home Office immigration figures also revealed that 393,000 sponsored study visas were granted to international students in 2024, a fall of 14% from 2023 (but 46% higher than 2019). New research from British Future, published earlier this month, found that six in ten Britons (61%) would prefer current levels of international student migration to stay the same or increase, while only 27% support reducing or stopping it.
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