Kemi Badenoch Pledges Stricter Immigration Policies: UK ‘Cannot Sustain’ Current Numbers
UK Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has announced plans to implement stricter immigration policies, warning that the current levels of migration are unsustainable for the country. Acknowledging past Conservative governments’ failure to effectively curb migration, Badenoch pledged to address the issue “without fear.”
“Immigration is at a pace too fast to maintain public services,” she stated. “For decades, the political class has presided over mass migration… The system that replaced free movement is not working.” Badenoch emphasized the need for integration, asserting that migrants must adopt British values to maintain a shared national identity. “Without a shared national identity, our country will suffer,” she warned, citing the strain on housing, healthcare, and wages caused by mass migration.
The Nigerian-born British politician vowed to review all relevant policies, treaties, and legal frameworks, including the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Human Rights Act. Key proposals include a strict numerical cap on visas, granting them only to individuals who make a substantial contribution, and publishing comprehensive data on migration to highlight its costs and benefits.
Badenoch predicted that forthcoming migration figures, covering the year to June, would show a decline due to measures introduced by the previous Conservative government, such as raising income thresholds for work visas and restricting the family members migrants can bring. However, she maintained that more robust actions are required.
“Our country cannot sustain the numbers we have seen,” she said. “We are reducing the quality of life for people already here. It is time to tell the truth.” She criticized the current Labour government for suspending key Conservative reforms, warning that their approach would fail to address high migration levels.
Badenoch outlined her vision for immigration reform, advocating for stricter controls across all entry routes, including family, work, study, and asylum. She called for zero tolerance for foreign criminals remaining in the UK and emphasized making British citizenship a privilege to be earned. “This country is not a dormitory or a hotel; it is our home. We need to look after it,” she said.
Promising a detailed immigration plan before the next election, Badenoch vowed to rebuild trust between the Conservative Party and the British public, accepting responsibility for past mistakes. “It’s time to tell the truth on immigration, and over the coming months, that’s exactly what I’m going to do,” she concluded.
