In November 2023, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak completed his second cabinet and ministerial reshuffle in which former Home Secretary Suella Braverman was replaced by James Cleverly, whose job as Foreign Secretary was given to former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron.
Cleverly has been an active member of the Conservative party for several years and after consistently supporting new policy ideas like the Rwanda plan and Brexit, he has maintained two roles in cabinet. Soon after his new position was instated, he clarified his intention to continue the “stop the boats’”anti-immigration plan, which aims to prevent small boats carrying asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel towards the UK. Sources in Whitehall, Westmister said that the change in staff was also to tackle the fractured relationship between the Metropolitan Police and the Conservative Party after Braverman’s allegations of bias led to tension between the institutions. In an effort to change the narrative that the current government does not have control over its associated branches, Sunak made staffing choices that instead refocused the narrative on his current anti-immigration policies. As the Rwanda Plan is encouraged by Conservative MPs and party supporters, the new Home Secretary is continuing the “stop the boats” campaign to fulfil their expectations, despite the Supreme Court ruling that the policy was unlawful in November 2023.
Cleverly’s migration plan tackles the large number of migrant dependents that will be able to legally enter the UK, overseas workers’ salaries and the exploitation of immigrants. According to GOV.UK: “101,000 Health and Care Worker visas were issued to care workers and senior care workers, with an estimated 120,000 visas granted to associated dependants, the majority of whom we estimate don’t work, but still make use of public services.” This is the type of practical oversight the new Home Secretary aims to remedy with his plan. Secondly, he aims to increase the earning threshold by almost 50% for overseas workers so that it costs more for employers to hire them instead of a British worker. This provides employers with a monetary incentive to prioritise “British talent” when looking to hire. Moreover, 2024 sees the implementation of policies that deprive international students of the right to bring their dependents to the UK, which aims to protect the sanctity and quality of British higher education. These policies come from widely supported ideas in the rise of populism which encourages sheer disregard for the negative effect that anti-immigration attitudes can have on the functioning of the economy. Despite the actual makeup of British society, this plan drastically reduces access to the UK for anyone who is not a British citizen which can have upsetting effects on asylum seekers wishing to start a better life in the UK.
This plan has the underlying logic that if an immigrant wants to be in the UK, they must be able to support themselves and contribute to the economy without burdening public services and Britain’s hospitality. Cleverly’s moves on this topic will be watched closely by the British public ahead of the next general election; they will certainly be looking for unity in the new cabinet and a reliable front to vote for.
Ways You Can Help
- Joint Council of the Welfare of Immigrants: they have several campaigns that focus on migrant protection and support in the UK.
By Alia Esa
