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How have the UK's immigration policies changed over the past decade?

Kelsie Ludvigsen

Well, to start with, the UK's immigration policies have undergone quite a few changes in the past ten years. Some would say they've become much stricter, while others might argue that they haven't gone far enough.

In 2010, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government pledged to reduce net migration to the "tens of thousands," promising to limit the number of non-EU migrants coming to the UK. This marked a significant shift from the previous Labour government, which had been more open to immigration.

One of the first things the coalition government did was introduce the Immigration Cap, which limited the number of Tier 2 (skilled worker) visas that could be granted each year. This was followed by the Immigration Act 2014, which made it more difficult for immigrants to enter the UK illegally by introducing tougher penalties for landlords and employers who employ undocumented migrants.

Other significant changes included the introduction of the NHS surcharge, which requires non-EU migrants to pay a fee to access NHS services, and the creation of the hostile environment policy, which seeks to make it difficult for illegal immigrants to access public services. As part of this policy, the government introduced a controversial policy of deporting long-term residents who could not prove their right to remain in the UK.

However, these policies have not been without controversy. Many have criticised the government's approach as punitive and discriminatory, arguing that it has made life harder for legal migrants and has done little to address the root causes of immigration. Others have argued that the government's focus on reducing net migration has undermined the UK's ability to attract the skilled workers it needs to remain competitive.

Overall, it's clear that the UK's immigration policies have changed significantly over the past decade, with the government introducing a range of measures aimed at reducing net migration and making it harder for illegal immigrants to settle in the UK. However, opinions are divided on whether these policies are the right approach to immigration, with concerns about discrimination, human rights violations, and economic impact all coming into play.