Establish transparent, skills-based immigration policies aligned with labor market needs. Net migration to the UK hit a record 606,000 in 2022, driven by work visas and refugees, underscoring the need for a clear plan. The government can set annual targets by category (skilled workers, students, humanitarian) and publish these in advance. Post-Brexit, the UK introduced a points-based system prioritizing skills and salary; this should be coupled with realistic targets so businesses know the talent pipeline and the public knows what to expect. Countries like Canada and Australia do this effectively – for example, Australia’s cap is about 195,000 permanent migrants for 2022/23 to fill skill shortages, and Canada targets 500,000 new residents by 2025 to address its labor needs. By openly tying immigration numbers to economic demand (e.g. more healthcare workers or engineers as needed) and regularly reporting progress, the UK can ensure immigration benefits the economy while addressing public concerns about scale.
Work closely with France and other partners to prevent illegal Channel crossings and break trafficking networks. Over 45,000 people arrived in small boats across the English Channel in 2022, often exploited by smugglers. The UK and France have already struck a joint agreement in late 2022, investing €72 million to boost French beach patrols by 40% and embed UK officers in French control rooms. Building on this, the UK should continue funding joint intelligence and drone surveillance to intercept boats before they launch. Multilateral efforts are paying off – in 2024, a Europol-coordinated operation dismantled a major gang that was trafficking migrants across the Channel. The UK should deepen cooperation with EU agencies (Europol, Frontex) and source countries to prosecute smugglers and share information on routes. Stronger border security technology (from coastal radar to electronic entry/exit tracking) will ensure that while lawful migration is welcomed, illegal pathways are tightly controlled, preventing tragic deaths at sea and restoring public confidence that borders are managed.
Provide clear, accessible immigration data and communication to counter myths and foster trust. Misinformation around immigration is rife – for instance, polls have shown the UK public believes asylum seekers constitute a much larger portion of immigrants than they actually do. In reality, asylum applicants were only about 6–11% of immigrants in recent years. Publishing easy-to-understand dashboards on migration (with figures for work, study, family, asylum, etc.) on a monthly or quarterly basis can correct false impressions. The Home Office’s “Migration Statistics Quarterly Report” and the independent Migration Observatory already compile data; these should be promoted to the public with infographics and fact-checks on common claims. Regular briefings – e.g. explaining why net migration rose or fell and how student arrivals are counted – will make the issue less opaque. When people have facts (for example, that ~1.3 million visas were granted in 2022, half to students), they are less swayed by fearmongering. Other countries like Canada accompany their immigration targets with annual reports to Parliament and public town halls, which helps maintain broad support for an evidence-based system. Transparency and outreach can turn a divisive issue into a constructive dialogue with citizens.
