Official UK government announcements or legislative records

Rishi Sunak Pledges Annual Cap on Work and Family Visas If Conservatives Win Election

Jun 3, 2024, 09:40 PM

Rishi Sunak has pledged to introduce an annual cap on migration if the Conservatives win the next election. This cap will apply to work and family visas, with the exact number to be determined by an annual vote in Parliament. Sunak's proposal includes a mechanism to lower the cap each year, although he has not specified a target number. This move comes despite current and former ministers noting that Sunak had previously rejected similar proposals during his tenure as Chancellor and Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is expected to call this an 'immigration lock' and aims to reduce the number of foreign workers and dependants coming to the UK.