Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric and Policies Intensify Across the UK Amid Shifting Political Landscape

Escalating Rhetoric and Political Shifts

Anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies have intensified across the United Kingdom and wider Europe, as migration continues to climb the political agenda. This trend is accompanied by a notable increase in the popularity of right-wing parties, influencing the discourse and legislative actions of mainstream political groups. Public sentiment in the UK reflects this, with two-thirds (67%) of British adults believing the number of people entering the country is too high. This period has also seen a rise in hate crimes, with police in England and Wales recording over 115,000 hate crimes in the year to March 2025, a 2% increase from the previous year.

The former Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, was known for her inflammatory statements, having previously described migrants as an 'invasion' and a 'hurricane'. Her rhetoric often included proposals to deny citizenship to certain groups. Such language has been criticized by various groups, including some within her own party, for being divisive.

Policy Developments Under Conservative and Labour Administrations

The Conservative government, prior to the July 2024 general election, pursued stringent immigration policies. Key proposals included requiring new migrants to wait 10 years before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and an additional 5 years for British Citizenship. They also significantly increased salary thresholds for the Skilled Worker route to £38,700 from April 2024 and for family visas to £29,000. Restrictions were also placed on dependants for international students and care workers, alongside a proposed annual cap on migration.

A central, and highly controversial, policy was the Rwanda plan, which aimed to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and resettlement. Despite being ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court in November 2023, the Conservative government passed the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Act 2024 to overcome legal challenges. However, after winning the July 2024 general election, the Labour government cancelled the Rwanda scheme, which had cost an estimated £700 million with only four migrants voluntarily relocated.

The new Labour government, while denouncing racism, has also adopted a tougher stance on immigration. They have retained most of the Conservative government's net migration reduction measures and aim to reduce net migration by focusing on skill-based migration and enhancing border security. Labour's proposals include increasing the eligibility period for ILR to 10 years, with new conditions such as higher English proficiency and evidence of community contribution. They also plan to introduce free digital ID cards to verify identity and residence status and have established a new Border Security Command to disrupt smuggling networks. Furthermore, the Labour government has suspended refugee family reunification applications and aims to end the use of asylum hotels by the end of the current Parliament.

Rise of Right-Wing Parties and Public Protests

The political landscape has seen a significant shift with the growing influence of right-wing parties. Reform UK has emerged as the most trusted party on immigration issues, with 37% of the public trusting them on policies, 39% on handling Channel crossings, and 42% on making illegal entry more difficult. Their leader, Nigel Farage, is the most trusted political leader on immigration at 28%. Reform UK advocates for abolishing the ILR route for permanent settlement after five years and introducing an Illegal Migration (Mass Deportation) Bill.

This heightened political rhetoric and policy focus have coincided with public demonstrations. Anti-immigrant protests, some turning violent, have occurred across the UK. Notable incidents include protests outside asylum hotels in Epping in July 2025 and a large march in London in September 2025 organized by far-right activist Tommy Robinson, where 26 police officers were injured. These events underscore the increasing tensions surrounding immigration in the UK.