Rajeev Syal

London

Senior Reporter at The Guardian

I cover home affairs for the Guardian. If you have a potential story: [email protected]

Articles

Starmer defends plans to curb net migration after backlash from MPs

2 days ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

Keir Starmer has defended his plans to curb net migration after an angry backlash from MPs, businesses and industry to a speech in which he said the UK risked becoming an “island of strangers” without tough new policies. The rhetoric was likened by some critics to the language of Enoch Powell, and the prime minister was accused of pandering to the populist right by insisting he intended to “take back control of our borders” and end a “squalid chapter” of rising inward migration.
UK risks becoming ‘island of strangers’ without more immigration curbs, Starmer says

2 days ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

The UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” without tougher controls on who enters the country, Keir Starmer said on Monday, as he unveiled a set of policies meant to significantly drive down net migration. The prime minister said his government would “take back control of our borders” and close the book on a “squalid chapter” of rising inward migration. Net migration, the difference between the number of people moving to the UK and the number leaving, was 728,000 in the 12 months to June 2024.
English test among range of Labour measures to control immigration

3 days ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

Adults accompanying foreign workers to the UK will be expected to pass an English language test and care homes will be prevented from recruiting staff from abroad as part of a swathe of new measures to be revealed by Keir Starmer to “tighten up” the immigration system.
Labour’s immigration shake-up challenges decades of party policy

3 days ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

The publication of the 69-page white paper entitled Restoring Control Over the Immigration System on Monday marks a major departure for Keir Starmer’s government as it attempts to combat Reform UK’s surge in the polls. Its package of changes is meant to rebuild a link between the immigration system and the labour market, and to ensure that homegrown workers have enough skills so that overseas workers are not needed to fill posts.
UK care homes face ban on overseas recruitment under migration plans

3 days ago | msn.com | Rajeev Syal |Peter Walker

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UK employers reliant on foreign workers face visa crackdown

6 days ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

Employers wishing to recruit engineers, IT workers and telecommunication staff from abroad will have to show they are investing in domestic workforce training under plans to reduce net migration to the UK. A government white paper to be published early next week is expected to outline new requirements for specific sectors thought to be too reliant on foreign workers.
Criminals in England and Wales face sanctions for refusing to attend sentencing

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

Criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing face segregation in prison cells and longer time in jail under new powers handed to judges. Tougher sanctions across England and Wales will include confinement to cells and less time in the gym among measures to be introduced to parliament on Wednesday. The development comes after recently convicted criminals in high-profile cases have refused to attend sentencing hearings and victim impact statements.
Prisons minister vows to end ‘toxic’ cover-up culture in England and Wales

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

Sexual harassment, racism and bullying have become “normalised” in jails and probation offices across England and Wales, the prisons minister has warned, as he announced a plan to overhaul a “toxic culture of cover-up” among senior staff. James Timpson said one in eight of HM Prison and Probation Service’s (HMPPS) 65,000 staff say they have been bullied.
Student visa crackdown will make UK crisis ‘considerably worse’, says university chief

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Sally Weale |Rajeev Syal

New proposals to crack down on student visa applications in order to reduce asylum claims will make the financial crisis facing beleaguered UK universities “considerably worse”, the government has been told. Ahead of the publication of an immigration white paper, there have been reports that visa applications from nationalities considered likely to overstay and claim asylum in the UK could be targeted as part of a new government crackdown.
Nigerians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans face UK student visa crackdown

1 week ago | theguardian.com | Rajeev Syal

Nigerians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans applying to work or study in the UK face Home Office restrictions over suspicions that they are most likely to overstay and claim asylum, Whitehall officials have claimed. The government is working with the National Crime Agency to build models to profile applicants from these countries who are likely to go on to claim asylum.