Don’t panic – Travel expert dismisses not-so-new UK border rules
Travel expert Waka Waka Doctor urges migrants not to panic over the UK’s new immigration rules. Starmer’s strict policies are routine, and economies need migrants
Africa’s top travel expert, Waka Waka Doctor, WWD, has urged migrants not to panic over UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s newly announced immigration reforms, dismissing them as routine shifts in a country known for frequent policy changes.
The reassurance comes as Starmer’s Labour government unveiled a White Paper on Monday, promising the strictest measures yet to curb migration and “take back control” of Britain’s borders.
Starmer’s reforms, aimed at slashing net migration from its near-million peak, include extending the residency requirement for settlement from five to ten years, imposing tougher English language tests for visa applicants and dependents, and banning overseas recruitment of care workers.
The policies also strengthen deportation powers for foreign offenders and tighten visa rules, requiring skilled workers to hold university degrees.
WWD on the UK border rules
In a post on his official X account, WWD downplayed the alarm surrounding the changes and called for calm.
“For me, I’d say do not panic about the immigration changes the UK has rolled out,” he wrote.
“Every working economy needs immigrants, you can’t do without immigrants,” he added. “The UK is also known to change immigration laws like their weather, it’s not new. Migration didn’t start today.”
WWD’s comments paint a broader perspective on the UK’s reliance on migrant labour, particularly in sectors like healthcare and social care, which face staffing crises without overseas workers.
Critics of Starmer’s plan, including Labour MPs and charities, echo this sentiment, warning that the reforms could cripple industries and alienate communities.
However, Starmer insists the measures will foster integration and reduce strain on public services, projecting a 100,000 annual drop in migration by 2029.
While the debates are expected to rage on, WWD’s call for calm offers migrants a moment of clarity amid the UK’s ever-shifting border policies.
