Leading members of the Conservative Party are urging Rishi Sunak to take decisive action to reduce net migration by two-thirds, presenting a comprehensive plan that aims to reduce the

figures by 400,000 each year.

The New Conservatives lobby group will emphasize the party's commitment to fulfill the promise made in the 2019 manifesto, which aimed to bring net immigration below the then-level of 226,000 individuals per year. However, according to a recent report by the group, net immigration has surged to an all-time high of 606,000 in the previous year.

These senior Tories caution that failing to take swift action will further erode the trust of the voters who supported the Conservative Party in 2019. The New Conservatives lobby group, comprised of 25 Members of Parliament, including Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson, has put forth a 12-point plan aimed at reducing net migration by approximately 400,000.

The report emphasizes that the British public voted for a strong approach to migration, not for mass migration and the associated social and economic consequences. It highlights that an over-reliance on cheap international labor suppresses wages for British workers, discourages investment in skill development and new technology, and exacerbates the housing crisis.

The report is seen as a warning to Rishi Sunak, who has only expressed a commitment to bringing down numbers to the level inherited, which is around 500,000, roughly double the amount at the previous election. The report criticizes the points-based system introduced after Brexit, deeming it too lenient and potentially leading to destabilizing economic and cultural effects.

One key aspect of the plan proposed in the report is the urgent implementation of measures outlined in the Illegal Migration Bill, which could reduce numbers by an additional 35,000 by addressing the issue of small boat crossings.

Additionally, the report suggests raising the minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas to £38,000, potentially reducing numbers by 54,000 annually. Tightening regulations for foreign students, including the end of the post-graduation work visa, could lead to a reduction of 174,000 individuals per year, the report states.

The concerns raised in the report reflect broader apprehensions within the Conservative Party regarding the escalating levels of immigration. With one minister expressing that the government has "taken its eye off the ball" after the pandemic, these concerns are gaining traction among party members. Photo by NCVO London, Wikimedia commons.