Sir Keir Starmer’s speech this morning (12/05/25)

I watched it, it was measured and well thought out.

Strangely, I did not get any feelings that he’s worried about Reform, but more worried about the people who believe Reform can succeed when we’ve heard nothing about the “how”.

I think our migration system is broken, I don’t know if this is the answer, we can only wait and see.

I did notice there was nothing about Asylum Seekers, but Starmer is right, “normal” migration has led to far far more people coming in legally.

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

If they’ve got anything about them they will find courses or tutors. A friend of mine moved to Germany and had to find courses herself.

”He seems to have been rather worried by Reform’s recent gains in local councils”

??? GG the introduction of this white paper is clearly not a knee jerk reaction to the recent local election results. It will have been months in the planning - hardly knocked together in a week!

As usual Starmer looked like a scared rabbit caught in the headlights.

Where are these people who are going to fill jobs in areas where we need workers going to live? They couldn’t afford a mortgage and private rental prices have now gone crazy. Plus landlords now require large deposits, excellent references and credit checks.

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

There are already schemes in place via the job centres in most areas and the govt will simply have to invest in more schemes.

Primrose53

As usual Starmer looked like a scared rabbit caught in the headlights.

Where are these people who are going to fill jobs in areas where we need workers going to live? They couldn’t afford a mortgage and private rental prices have now gone crazy. Plus landlords now require large deposits, excellent references and credit checks.

I absolutely disagree, he seemed confident and balanced.

However, I do agree with you about housing, the simple fact here is we desperately need more social housing.

Primrose53

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

If they’ve got anything about them they will find courses or tutors. A friend of mine moved to Germany and had to find courses herself.

Obviously? My point was that such opportunities have become depleted.

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

My daughter used to teach English to Asylum seekers a few years ago. They didn’t have to pay and my daughter worked for free. This was in Oxford.

Ladyleftfieldlover

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

My daughter used to teach English to Asylum seekers a few years ago. They didn’t have to pay and my daughter worked for free. This was in Oxford.

That's great. I suspect what's on offer is patchy. In my experience women with children are at a disadvantage.

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

Most counties and adult colleges and community colleges where ESOL classes are available, some schools actually run courses as do some children’s centres, in addition BBC website has courses. If they need to learn the language and integrate to stay, they will.

lafergar

Primrose53

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

If they’ve got anything about them they will find courses or tutors. A friend of mine moved to Germany and had to find courses herself.

Obviously? My point was that such opportunities have become depleted.

The local authorities have cut courses, but there are certainly groups running in this area. My neighbours are from Eastern Europe and I know one of them has been using Duolingo (for free) for the last four years. She has always had a job, so chats with colleagues and is more or less fluent in English now.

Cossy

lafergar

I wonder where people are going to learn English? There is practically nothing available. From their phones I suppose.

Most counties and adult colleges and community colleges where ESOL classes are available, some schools actually run courses as do some children’s centres, in addition BBC website has courses. If they need to learn the language and integrate to stay, they will.

Children's Centres?

Do they still exist then?

As you wish.

For me it was very lacking in detail with at least 50% being about his favourite topic 'how awful the last government was'.

We still have Children’s Centres here in Essex, not as many as we had or need, we also have a few community centres and an Adult college here in Southend.

Where’s there’s a will, there’s a way.

Legal migration has become a problem too. Yvette Cooper is allowing only those with a degree into the UK. There are too many low skilled foreign workers she said and believes they haven't been good for the UK.
I think that care workers need qualifications and to be paid much more. I think if the pay and conditions were better more British people would do the job.

Smileless2012

For me it was very lacking in detail with at least 50% being about his favourite topic 'how awful the last government was'.

Well, I don’t know about you, but he’s right, the last govt were pretty awful for many of us.

Austerity, where some public sectors pay was frozen for years, Brexit, Liz Trust, money give away in its ££££m to the DUPs (Theresa May) Rwanda and France (Bo Jo and Sunak) not to mention BoJo throwing away ££££m during Covid, breaking Covid rules and proroguing parliament (illegally) I could go on, but all I will say is some of you have very short and selective memories!

Do I agree with some of Starmer’s moves? No, I don’t like the way he dealt with WFA, do I regret voting for Labour? No, and I’m still willing to give them a chance, I’d prefer if they were further left, as a true Labour Party should be, but we saw the results politically when Corbin was leader.

I don’t think 10 months is long enough to judge!

AGAA4

Legal migration has become a problem too. Yvette Cooper is allowing only those with a degree into the UK. There are too many low skilled foreign workers she said and believes they haven't been good for the UK.
I think that care workers need qualifications and to be paid much more. I think if the pay and conditions were better more British people would do the job.

The issue here is that we have many many 17-25 year old Brits unemployed, and having left school with poor academic achievements. They need employment and all they will get initially is minimum wage roles. Also care homes need more than just carers, they need admin, cleaners and kitchen staff.

It is silly to bring in immigrants to do low level roles, cleaners, dustbin men, road sweepers, our own unemployed should fill these roles.

I completely agree more training etc should be given to carers, but they’re not the only ones badly paid, teaching assistant and nursery workers have qualifications and are low earners.

It’s all a bit of a mess, isn’t it!

There are courses at my local college to learn English. Those that work for the NGS have to pass an English exam if nursing.

I’ve not heard his speech so I don’t know why I’m commenting but where I live we are lacking an active policing force. There is so much criminal behaviour that isn’t dealt with that I fear people will just take matters into their own hands which won’t end well

I agree that carers, support workers, nursery works and teaching assistants need to get paid more

I havent listened to all of it yet. Will need to at some point.

So much for increasing social care, does he think that these vacancies can be filled from U.K. citizens?

If he does, then successive governements have been robbing Uk citizens of work.

If he doesnt, then what is he playing at?

To my mind, it is certainly not immigrants who are here legally and working that is and has been the problem.

I think his "new plan" may backfire terribly.
Is that what he really wants??

Surely people know the difference between the two groups of immigrants.

If they do, then I dont think he will last long, nor his legacy whatever that may be, once the cut in legal immigrants to the care system takes hold.

JaneJudge

There are courses at my local college to learn English. Those that work for the NGS have to pass an English exam if nursing.

I’ve not heard his speech so I don’t know why I’m commenting but where I live we are lacking an active policing force. There is so much criminal behaviour that isn’t dealt with that I fear people will just take matters into their own hands which won’t end well

Blimey - sounds like the Wild West!!

That isn’t true of my area in the south.

What we need is a summary/digest of all the measures - I've looked for one but there isn't one out yet.

The full paper - which as someone has said above, has been a long time the making - clearly not a "reaction" - is 76 pages and we need a summary of this.

It tackles in detail all aspects of legal immigration, which makes up the huge majority of people entering the country.

He's clearly worried and so he should be after telling so many lies.

Perhaps pressure from his own party has forced him to address the immigration issue and the rise in Reform.