In a bid to strengthen its stance on immigration, the UK government has launched an intensified operation against businesses employing unauthorized workers. Announced on Monday, this initiative, termed as a 'blitz on illegal working', has already led to the deportation of thousands of migrants who lack legal residency in the UK.
With immigration concerns high on the agenda for many UK voters, the center-left Labour government aims to curb the popularity of the far-right Reform UK party by demonstrating firm control over immigration issues. However, this approach has sparked controversy, conjuring images of a former Conservative push for a 'hostile environment' that adversely affected long-term legal residents.
Since Labour's election in July, immigration enforcement teams have completed over 5,000 raids across various business sectors, including nail salons, small retailers, vape shops, eateries, and car washes, resulting in nearly 4,000 arrests. These numbers represent a substantial increase from the previous year under Conservative governance. The UK has also deported over 16,000 individuals within this timeframe.
In a strategic but contentious move, the government plans to release footage depicting these deportations, drawing criticism for perceived insensitivity. Home Office Minister Angela Eagle emphasized the importance of rule enforcement, saying, We must ensure our system is respected and our actions understood. We need to deliver clear messages to those misled about what awaits them illegally entering the UK.
The UK government argues that misconceptions about easy job availability make the country an attractive destination for migrants willing to risk crossing the English Channel. This often perilous journey has resulted in more than 38,000 arrivals in 2024, with tragically over 70 losing their lives.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has underscored the threat crime gangs pose to global security, equating them with terrorist networks. The proposed Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is under parliamentary consideration, intends to introduce new powers, including confiscating traffickers' phones prior to their arrest. Additionally, the bill would formally repeal the controversial Safety of Rwanda Act.
Initially launched by the previous Conservative administration, the plan involved redirecting certain asylum seekers arriving by boat to Rwanda—a move Prime Minister Starmer dismissed as an 'expensive gimmick.' The Labour government's new bill is poised to pass due to their significant parliamentary majority. Yet, human rights advocates have voiced concerns, likening its provisions to counterterrorism measures.
The Conservative opposition has criticized the bill as ineffective. Despite Labour's landslide election victory seven months ago, their popularity has waned, with a noticeable rise in support for Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant Reform UK party. Though Reform UK holds only a fraction of the parliamentary seats, it competes closely with Labour and the Conservatives amid widespread voter discontent, even with elections years away.
This dynamic has pushed both major parties to adopt tougher immigration rhetoric. Nevertheless, political analysts like Prof. Rob Ford from the University of Manchester caution against Labour's current strategy. While trying to reclaim Reform UK supporters by focusing on divisive immigration issues might seem appealing, Ford suggests it could alienate the broader coalition that led to Labour’s recent electoral success by emphasizing growth, public services, and economic challenges.
