A balancing act on the border: why Labour is rethinking legal migration
In recent months, the Labour Government has found itself navigating an unusually tight political drawbridge on immigration policy. On one hand, public concern over small boat crossings remains a potent electoral issue. On the other, businesses are warning of acute skills shortages and pointing to the need for skilled legal migrants. Insiders in Whitehall describe the current state as a “difficult tightrope”: tough talk on illegal migration, followed by a cautious case for welcoming contributors through legal channels.
Tackling illegal arrivals first
Since taking office, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasised control over illegal crossings as the first priority. “The only thing that will restore trust among the British public is ultimately tackling illegal migration first and foremost,” a government source told PoliticsHome. Under Starmer’s leadership, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been given a clear mandate: secure the nation’s borders, stem small boat landings, and ensure that Britain’s asylum and enforcement systems are seen to be firm.
In September, Starmer’s decision to move Mahmood from Business to the Home Office was widely read as proof that he would adopt a harder line on border security. With small boat numbers still making headlines, Labour insiders believe that controlling illegal migration is vital for maintaining the trust of swing voters in “Middle England,” who remain sceptical of any party perceived as lenient on borders.
Introducing contribution-based criteria for migrants
Behind the scenes, ministers have sketched out a more upbeat narrative for legal migration. Central to this is the concept of “contribution.” Announced in Mahmood’s conference speech, new criteria for Indefinite Leave to Remain will incorporate:
- Continuous work and National Insurance contributions
- No recourse to public benefits
- Fluency in English language
- A demonstrable record of community service
- A clean criminal record
In addition, the qualifying period for settlement will extend from five to ten years for many applicants. Government insiders suggest further “contribution” reforms will follow in the coming months – always pitched as rewarding migrants who integrate, work, and pay their way.
The politics of earning consent
Labour strategists are keenly aware that positive arguments for legal migration carry little weight if illegal crossings remain unchecked. “Consent for a positive argument about migration is rooted in clarity about control,” a senior minister said. The aim, they explain, is to “earn permission” from the public – show that Britain can curb unauthorised arrivals, then open the door to migrants seen as adding value to the economy and communities.
This logic draws on polling by the Good Growth Foundation, which found that while 74% of the public worry about overall immigration, 68% support skilled migration. The GGF advocated a “skills-conscious, growth-conscious” approach – including proposals like a “work to teach” scheme, whereby sponsored migrants train British workers in key sectors.
Lessons from Denmark and a “National Migration Plan”
Whitehall officials even studied Denmark’s strict residency and asylum rules on a fact-finding trip to Copenhagen last month. Discussions have included temporary residence for asylum seekers, a limit on family reunification, and stronger deportation powers – all the while holding on to the promise of reforming legal routes.
Meanwhile, the think-tank Labour Together has urged a formal “National Migration Plan,” setting out demand levels by sector and region. Such an approach, they argue, would give employers predictability, reassure communities, and prevent sudden spikes in inflows that fuel public unease.
Risks from Reform UK and the far-right
But this middle-ground strategy comes with perils. Reform UK and the Conservatives continue to slug it out over who can be toughest on both legal and illegal migration, often using stark rhetoric about deportation and border controls. Some Labour MPs fear that any hint of a softer stance on legal routes could fuel a narrative of weakness. “You’re trying to juggle the political and the economic narratives here,” one backbencher warned. “It’s a very difficult tightrope.”
Adding urgency, polls show that disaffected left-leaning voters are drifting to the Greens and Lib Dems over climate or social justice issues – leaving Labour anxious about a similar exodus to Reform UK over immigration.
Finding a winning coalition
Senior Labour figures believe a “pro-growth migration policy” – one that closes the back door while opening a front door for skilled contributors – can win over a broader coalition: from One Nation Tories to urban liberals. “If you can put more money in people’s pockets, they vote for you,” remarked a minister. “A balanced immigration strategy supports the economy, which in turn drives support.”
As the debate intensifies ahead of the next general election, Labour faces a defining choice: maintain a hard line on illegal crossings to earn public trust, while cautiously building a positive case for legal migration that benefits Britain’s economy and social fabric.