Kemi Badenoch mulls visa cap as Conservatives weigh return to power

Immigration and Asylum Policies Under Review

Previous Tory Governments Failed to Keep Promises on Immigration

Badenoch acknowledged that previous Tory governments had not kept their promises on immigration, stating that they “did not deliver” on reducing migrant numbers. The current system imposed by the last Conservative administration has also been deemed ineffective.

New Immigration Policies in Development

The Tories are designing new immigration policies and reviewing every policy, treaty, and part of the legal framework, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act. This review aims to control the flow of people into the UK.

Plans for a Strict Numerical Cap

Badenoch mentioned that the Conservatives would be considering plans for a “strict numerical cap” with visas only for those who will make a substantial and clear overall contribution. However, she stopped short of revealing what the upper limit of this cap would be, citing the need for a detailed plan in place first.

Revisiting Deportation Plans and Rwanda Agreement

The Tories could revive plans to deport people who arrive by small boats, but Badenoch did not recommit to the £370m Rwanda plan. She stated that they still want a deterrent but acknowledged that changes may have occurred between what the Rwandan government was offering.

Criticism from Labour Party

Angela Eagle, Home Office minister, responded to Badenoch’s speech by saying that it offers no new ideas or alternative to her party’s failed policies of the past. Eagle also criticized the Tories for wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on the Rwanda gimmick and stated that Labour is fixing the foundations and getting a grip on the Tories’ immigration chaos.

Key Statistics

• Over 300,000 work visas were given in the year ending March 2024, more than double the number granted in 2019.

• Immigration levels last year were about three times higher than in 2019.

Immigration and Asylum Policies in Question

Previous Tory Governments’ Failure to Keep Promises

Badenoch acknowledged that previous Tory governments had failed to keep their promises on immigration. She stated that the Conservatives had not delivered on their promise to bring down migrant numbers, despite ending free movement and imposing a new system.

Numerical Visa Cap and Contribution-Based Immigration

The Conservative Party is reportedly mulling over plans for a “strict numerical cap, with visas only for those who will make a substantial and clear overall contribution.” However, the exact upper limit of this migration cap has not been revealed, as Badenoch suggested that she wants a detailed plan in place first.

Comparison to Previous Tory Governments’ Attempts

This proposal is reminiscent of previous Tory governments’ attempts to limit visas under David Cameron, Theresa May, and Rishi Sunak’s Illegal Migration Act. Immigration levels last year were about three times higher than in 2019, when the Tories won the last election with a promise to slash migrant numbers.

Reviving Deportation Plans and Rwanda Agreement

Badenoch confirmed that the Tories could revive a plan to deport people who arrive by small boats but stopped short of recommitting to the £370m Rwanda plan. She stated that they want a deterrent, but the specifics of this policy are still unclear.

Response from Home Office Minister Angela Eagle

The Home Office minister, Angela Eagle, responded to Badenoch’s speech, stating that it is welcome that the Tories finally accept that immigration spiralled out of control on their watch. However, she criticized Badenoch for offering no new ideas or alternative to her party’s failed policies of the past.

Key Statistics and Figures

• The system imposed by previous Tory governments has not worked, according to Badenoch.