UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch advocates for stricter immigration policies, citing strain on public services and social cohesion. She proposes visa caps, transparency on migration impacts, and reforms to legal frameworks, including the Human Rights Act, aiming to reduce net migration and prioritize British citizens' welfare.
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has pledged to tighten immigration policies, emphasizing that current migration levels are unsustainable. She criticized previous Tory governments for failing to control migration effectively and vowed to take decisive action.
"Immigration has grown too fast for our public services to keep up," Badenoch stated, highlighting how housing, healthcare, and wages are under strain. She underscored the importance of cultural integration, asserting that a shared national identity is crucial for the UK’s social cohesion.
Badenoch proposed implementing a numerical cap on visas, allowing entry only for individuals who can make substantial contributions to the country. Additionally, she advocated for increased transparency by publishing data on the economic and social impacts of immigration.
The Conservative leader pointed to measures enacted under the previous government, such as raising income thresholds for work visas and limiting family reunifications for students, which reportedly led to a decrease in net migration figures. Despite this, she noted that the numbers remain significantly high compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Badenoch criticized Labour’s immigration policies, arguing that they fail to address both legal and illegal migration effectively. She called for a comprehensive review of existing policies, treaties, and legal frameworks, including the Human Rights Act and European Convention on Human Rights.
“Our country is not a hotel; it’s our home,” she remarked, stressing the need for policies that prioritize the welfare of British citizens while ensuring that migration aligns with national interests.
