Labour’s return to managed migration
By David Robinson · · Updated 25 March 2026
After initially introducing us to the phrase “managed migration” in 2002, the Labour Party has today repeated its manifesto commitment to reduce net migration to the UK through controlling illegal immigration and managing a reduction in lawful immigration through reducing reliance on overseas labour.
In her speech to the Labour Party conference in Liverpool today, the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, said “A serious government knows that immigration is important, and that is why it needs to be properly managed and controlled so the system is fair, so rules are properly respected and enforced but we never again see a shameful repeat of the Windrush scandal that let British citizens down.”
Ms Cooper stated, “A serious government sees that net migration has trebled because overseas recruitment has soared while training has been cut right back” and vows to reduce net migration as “we properly train young people here in the UK” to replace overseas workers presently in the Skilled Worker visa category.
Net migration was just under 200,000 in 2009, the last year before the Conservatives formed the government. In 2023 net migration was 685,000.
The Home Office has commissioned two reviews. The first review being undertaken by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is looking at the factors behind the disproportionate reliance of the IT and engineering sectors on overseas recruitment. This review is due to conclude in May 2025. The second review is investigating the financial requirements in family migration applications, including partners and children. In particular, MAC is charged with considering whether the level of the Minimum Income Requirement is appropriately set at £29.000.
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