Nurses, universities, charities and some Labour MPs have criticised the Government's new immigration rules, claiming they could be “catastrophic” for some of the UK’s most important sectors.
Sir Keir Starmer on Monday announced fresh measures aimed at bringing down the number of people coming to Britain. The Prime Minister said that "we risk becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together" unless curbs are introduced.
Among the proposals are much harsher visa restrictions for foreign workers, inluding an end to overseas recruitment for the social care industry.
It will also be made more difficult for firms to hire from abroad without first investing in training in Britain and stricter tests for universities offering places to foreign students will be put in place.
English language requirements will also be increased as part of the crackdown.
Professor Nicola Ranger, one of England's leading nurses, slammed the plans as "pandering and scapegoating".
The general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), warned that the UK is "so reliant" on overseas workers, particularly in social care.
In a keynote speech at the union's annual congress in Liverpool, Prof Ranger said: "Let me say again: you are more than welcome in the United Kingdom.
"Thank you for bringing your skills to this country. Bigger than that, you've brought your lives here. Your families.
"You know, more than I ever will, how hard that is. The obstacles. The costs. Even worse: the hostility. We want to crack down on this."
The GMB union said plans to scrap care visas could be “catastrophic” for the sector.
Will Dalton, GMB National Officer, added: “The whole sector is utterly reliant on migrant workers – yet we still have more than 130,000 vacancies across the country.
“Care work is difficult, often dangerous yet very badly paid. GMB is working with the Government on Fair Pay Agreements in care, which are desperately needed to give these highly skilled professionals the wage rise they deserve.
“But there is absolutely no chance these will in in place in time to fill the void these new visa restrictions will create.”
The plans could also exacerbate the financial challenges faced by British universities, education leaders have warned.
Under the White Paper proposals, the length of time foreign graduates can remain in the UK after their studies finish will be reduced from two years to 18 months and a new levy on income that universities generate from international students could be introduced.
It also proposes strengthening the requirements that sponsoring institutions must meet in order to recruit international students.
Last week, an analysis by the Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator, projected that more than two in five (43%) universities and colleges in England were expected to be in deficit this year.
Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK (UUK), said: "Following years of frozen fees, inadequate research funding and a rapid downturn in international students, the current operating environment is very challenging. "We would urge Government to think carefully about the impact that a levy on international student fees will have on universities and the attractiveness of the UK as a study destination."
Several left wing Labour MPs have also spoken out against the plans.
Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome condemned Sir Keir's rhetoric as "dangerous" and divisive.
"The step-up in anti-migrant rhetoric from the Government is shameful and dangerous, she said.
"Migrants are our neighbours, friends and family. To suggest that Britain risks becoming 'an island of strangers' because of immigration mimics the scaremongering of the far-right."
Labour MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill Bell Ribeiro-Addy appeared to endorse the message by reposting Ms Whittome's statement on social media site X.
Labour MP for Luton North Sarah Owen warned that "chasing the tail of the right risks taking our country down a very dark path".
"The best way to avoid becoming an 'island of strangers' is investing in communities to thrive - not pitting people against each other,” she added.
Care4Calais, a refugee charity, accused the Prime Minister of "dangerous" rhetoric that risked fanning the flames of the far-right.
"This is dangerous language for any prime minister to use. Has Starmer forgotten last year's far-right riots?" Steve Smith, the charity's chief executive, said.
"Shameful language like this will only inflame the fire of the far-right and risks further race riots that endanger survivors of horrors such as war, torture and modern slavery. "Starmer must apologise."
But Migration Minister Seema Malhotra defended Sir Keir's claim that Britain risks becoming an "island of strangers" without toughened border controls amid the growing backlash.
She dismissed suggestions that the PM’s choice of language was anti-migrant when pressed on what his underlying message had been.
"What that really recognises is that without ways in which we've got common ties that bind us together, the way in which we can communicate well with each other, neighbours can talk to each other, people can play a part and play a role in their communities, that we risk being communities that live side by side, rather than work and walk together," she told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme.
Asked whether the Prime Minister had been saying there were too many people moving to the UK and integration cannot happen fast enough, Ms Malhotra said: "Well no, that's not what he was saying.
"I think what he recognised as well in the press statement this morning was how much migration has been and remains a vital part of our identity."
