Starmer vows to cut net migration by 2029, unveils ambitious skills reform plan

Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday pledged that net migration to the UK would fall “significantly” by 2029, as his government unveiled a sweeping white paper aimed at tackling Britain’s chronic skills shortage and reversing years of stagnant economic growth.

Speaking at a training college in Birmingham, Starmer framed the new policy package as both a blueprint for national renewal and a pivot away from an overreliance on foreign labour.

“It’s not just a white paper—it’s a plan to rebuild Britain,” Starmer said.

“One of the reasons that we’ve had stagnant growth for more than a decade is because we have chronically underinvested in skills and training. That ends now.”

The white paper proposes a multi-billion-pound boost in technical education, including expanded apprenticeships, regional skills academies, and direct incentives for employers to hire and train British workers in key sectors such as construction, health care, logistics, and technology.

The Prime Minister directly linked the domestic skills strategy to future migration policy, making it clear that the government would seek to reduce demand for overseas workers by investing in the UK workforce.

“We need to face the hard truth,” Starmer said.

“If we don’t build the skills here at home, we will always be chasing short-term fixes with immigration.

That’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair to British workers.”

Though Starmer did not offer a specific target, officials confirmed that the government expects net migration to fall to “well below” pre-2020 levels by the end of the current Parliament.

The announcement comes amid ongoing public pressure over high migration figures, which exceeded 700,000 in 2023.

The issue has sparked political controversy across the spectrum, with opposition parties accusing Labour of lacking a coherent plan, while business leaders have warned against abrupt cuts that could leave critical sectors short of labour.

The Confederation of British Industry cautiously welcomed the white paper but urged the government to ensure a smooth transition.

“We support long-term investment in skills,” said CBI Director-General Rain Newton-Smith.

“But reducing migration without closing the skills gap would risk harming growth.”

Meanwhile, the Conservative opposition criticised the announcement as “too little, too late,” with Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly accusing Labour of “trying to rewrite history after years of supporting open-door immigration.”

Despite the political crossfire, Starmer appeared confident.

“This is about rebuilding pride in work, dignity in education, and security for the next generation,” he said.

The white paper is expected to be debated in Parliament later this month, with initial implementation measures set to begin in the autumn.