Chris Murray MP Discusses the Government’s Immigration White Paper on Times Radio
Chris Murray MP was on Times Radio on the 12th of May discussing the new measures announced in the Government's immigration White Paper.
Murray described the measures as "potentially transformative", emphasising that meaningful reform comes not from headline-grabbing changes but from gradual, comprehensive improvements across different parts of the system. This includes areas like student visas, skilled worker routes, and the health and social care sector.
He addressed recent controversy over the phrase "island of strangers," interpreting the Prime Minister's message as emphasising the importance of learning English for successful integration. He stated that promoting English language skills is not an extreme position, highlighting that many migrants are eager to learn in order to fully participate in society, work, and community life. A key government announcement is aimed at expanding support and incentives for English language learning among migrants.
On the broader issue of immigration control, the MP argued that restoring control is essential for fairness — not only for local communities and taxpayers, but also for migrants, some of whom face exploitation in the labour market. He acknowledged that public trust has been eroded due to past failures to manage migration numbers and promised a shift away from a high-volume, free-market approach to one focused on long-term stability and fairness.
When asked about net migration figures, he cautioned against setting arbitrary targets, which have previously been missed, and encouraged a focus on the practical impacts of immigration reform rather than numeric goals. The government’s objective, he said, is to ensure people feel a real and positive difference in their daily lives.
Regarding the care sector, the MP noted that the use of the health and social care visa had risen significantly and argued that reducing its use is necessary to address market imbalances and encourage recruitment from the domestic workforce. He stressed the need to invest in the sector rather than rely solely on international recruitment, while also ensuring that those already on care visas retain the ability to work in other parts of the sector.