The relationship between the British public and Westminster on immigration has reached a breaking point.
For decades, promises to control migration have been made and broken by political parties of all colours, leaving voters justifiably disillusioned with a system that has allowed numbers to swell to levels they never consented to.
Alongside my local work as your Member of Parliament for Newark—focusing on key campaigns to enhance the local education system, opposing large solar farm proposals, addressing crime and anti-social behaviour, striving to uplift every area of the constituency, and much more— I am now leading a national campaign to restore integrity and trust in our immigration system by advocating for a concrete cap on net migration, serving as a democratic lock on the numbers that can enter the UK.
This is not just about numbers; it's about protecting our economy and preserving the British way of life, values deeply cherished by constituents in Nottinghamshire.
The unchecked rise in migration has not enriched us; in fact, since 1998—the first year net migration exceeded 100,000—GDP per capita growth has halved compared to previous decades.
Last year’s migration figures, totalling over 1.2m legal and 30,000 illegal arrivals, have placed immense pressure on our infrastructure, intensifying the housing crisis, straining public services, and challenging community cohesion.
With the support of experts like Neil O’Brien MP–a first-rate minister and former Treasury special advisor and the Centre for Policy Studies – the pre-eminent centre-Right economic think tank, my campaign is challenging the prevailing narrative that mass migration is an unequivocal economic boon.
Our analyses reveal that the economic contributions of migrants vary widely, with some groups placing a considerable strain on public finances over their lifetimes. Indeed, people do not arrive in this country with a hospital bed, a house or a mile of road.
To effectively address the concerns surrounding our current migration levels, I propose implementing a firm, concrete cap on net migration, setting it at tens of thousands annually.
This specific target will be brought before Parliament for a thorough debate and vote, ensuring full transparency and compliance with democratic principles.
The proposed cap is not just a numerical limit but a cornerstone of a broader debate on the impacts of the cap on infrastructure, housing, and public services.
This structured approach will allow us to make informed decisions, ensuring that our migration policy aligns with the national interest and addresses the needs of our communities comprehensively.
Before I resigned as immigration minister in protest, I managed to secure a reduction in annual arrivals of an estimated 300,000 per year, but I saw that as an important first step, not job done.
We need to create a far more restrictive system that establishes the UK as the grammar school of the Western world, focusing on attracting the high skill, high wage migrants who will be net contributors to the economy.
This means unwinding post-Brexit liberalisations and re-establishing a migration system that is selective and strategic, focusing on high-skill, high-wage migrants.
Restoring credibility on immigration is a challenge, but it is essential for the future of our country.
In this and other campaigns I will always put the country and constituency first, and argue independent mindedly for what I believe is the right thing to do.
