The Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) UK Kerala Chapter has expressed serious concerns over the White Paper on immigration control recently released by the Keir Starmer government. In response, IOC UK Kerala Chapter President Suju K. Daniel met with Migration Minister Seema Malhotra to discuss the potential impact of the proposals on the Indian community in the UK.
According to Suju K. Daniel, the new measures outlined in the White Paper could disproportionately affect Indians working across various sectors in Britain. “We shared our concerns with the Minister, particularly on how these rules may negatively impact skilled workers and families,” he said.
Minister Malhotra assured the delegation that the government would only implement the new law after holding comprehensive discussions and eliminating all misconceptions. The White Paper is scheduled to be debated in Parliament on September 8.
In preparation, IOC activists have decided to reach out to Members of Parliament across party lines. As part of this initiative, members from different regions of the UK have already started sending letters and emails to their local MPs.
One of the most contentious proposals in the White Paper is the extension of the visa residency requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to ten years. Analysts suggest that the Labour government has introduced these strict measures in an attempt to address challenges posed by the Reform UK party during the recent elections.
The government argues that extending the ILR requirement could reduce the number of people settling permanently in the UK, while also discouraging new migrants from moving in. At the same time, the White Paper makes clear that the government will carefully consider the reaction of migrant communities before finalising the policy.
It is against this backdrop that IOC UK Kerala Chapter has intensified its efforts to voice community concerns through direct engagement with MPs and policymakers.
