At #Lab22 conference, Keir Starmer promised to introduce a “points-based immigration system”.
A short thread on why this is a bad position for Labour to have 🧵 👇
A short thread on why this is a bad position for Labour to have 🧵 👇
Firstly, the term “points-based system” doesn’t tell us very much. Without any more detail, it’s almost meaningless.
It’s more of a dogwhistle than a policy announcement. It’s meant to invoke being “tough” on immigration and only letting in the “good” migrants.
It’s more of a dogwhistle than a policy announcement. It’s meant to invoke being “tough” on immigration and only letting in the “good” migrants.
What a “points-based system” does signal is an immigration system targeted towards the needs of business, not ordinary people.
It implies visas for the rich and those workers who are particularly useful to capital, closed borders to everyone else.
It implies visas for the rich and those workers who are particularly useful to capital, closed borders to everyone else.
Conditional visas empower bosses. Free movement protects and empowers workers.
Instead of throwing around dogwhistles, Labour should focus on ending the hostile environment, seeking free movement agreements (not just with Europe) & challenging divisive, anti-migrant narratives.
Instead of throwing around dogwhistles, Labour should focus on ending the hostile environment, seeking free movement agreements (not just with Europe) & challenging divisive, anti-migrant narratives.
We have to say: we prefer this version of Keir Starmer. 👇 
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