Under pressure from voters concerned about high immigration, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to announce stricter immigration policies on Monday.

Starmer, leader of the center-left Labour Party that achieved a significant victory in July, faces increasing pressure as Nigel Farage’s right-wing, anti-immigration Reform UK party gains traction.

Voter dissatisfaction stems from the belief that high immigration numbers have strained public services and fueled ethnic tensions in certain areas.

The new legislation aims to put an end to what Starmer’s office termed “Britain’s failed experiment in open borders,” following Reform UK’s recent successes attributed to the immigration issue.

Both Labour and the center-right Conservatives, historically the dominant parties, experienced declines in support during recent local elections.

The proposed changes include restricting skilled visas to graduate-level positions and limiting lower-skilled visas to sectors critical to the nation’s industrial strategy. Businesses will also be required to invest more in training British workers, and care sector companies will no longer be able to sponsor visas for overseas recruits.

“We will tighten every aspect of the immigration system, including work, family, and study, to gain better control,” Starmer stated in excerpts from his upcoming speech. “Enforcement will be stricter than ever, and migration numbers will decrease. We will establish a controlled, selective, and fair system.”

Generally, migrants in the UK on visas are not entitled to welfare benefits or social housing.

The government also intends to raise English language proficiency requirements for all adult dependents, mandating a basic understanding of English to promote integration and reduce exploitation risks.

“This marks a clean break from the past, ensuring that settlement in this country is a privilege that must be earned, not a right,” Starmer asserted.

“Furthermore, those who come to our country should commit to integrating and learning our language,” he added.

Employers are voicing concerns that stricter regulations on foreign workers could hinder their ability to fill job vacancies.

While the number of EU migrants entering Britain decreased significantly after Brexit, new visa regulations, an increase in arrivals from Ukraine and Hong Kong, and a rise in international students have contributed to a surge in net migration in recent years.

“We inherited a broken immigration system where the previous government replaced free movement with a free market experiment,” stated British interior minister Yvette Cooper. “We are taking decisive steps to regain control and restore order to the immigration system.”

Reuters and