Could a New Prime Minister Change UK Immigration Policy?

New Prime Minister, new immigration policy?

It seems that Prime Minister Kier Starmer has become wildly unpopular, not least in the Labour Party. All sorts of people are turning against him, including some Cabinet colleagues. It seems that his days could be numbered, and various contenders for the crown have emerged or may yet emerge. The surrounding politics is all rather complicated but suffice to say there is a real possibility of a leadership contest or resignation within the next couple of months or so. And as Labour is in power a new leader will be a new Prime Minister.

But, as is obvious, if we get a new Prime Minister we may well get a different immigration policy and for that matter a different Home Secretary. The current Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has evidently been working in close accord with the Prime Minister in their mission to drastically reduce immigration. 

A new leader – and depending of course on who it is – may well have different ideas and may well appoint a new Home Secretary whose thinking is on the same lines as theirs.

Now, this comes in the wake of the Home Secretary having introduced a range of new immigration policy proposals, and the consultation for this finished quite recently. An arresting thought occurs: if the Prime Minister does go and goes quickly might these proposals be consigned to the Dustbin of History? It is at least a possibility.

Not for the first time, the link between politics and immigration policy clearly emerges.

We are living in times which are more uncertain then usual, so we would say keep your eye on the papers and of course keep your eye on this blog. We will report on anything interesting or important as it affects immigration policy.

Oliver Westmoreland

Senior Immigration Lawyer