The race to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative party leader is heating up, with immigration emerging as a central theme in the debates. The two leading candidates, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick and shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch, have turned their focus to Indian visas, calling for stricter immigration policies in response to rising concerns about illegal entry and cultural integration.
The push for a tougher stance on immigration follows the Conservative Party’s recent electoral setbacks, particularly the party’s significant loss in the general election under Sunak’s leadership. As the party seeks to redefine its approach and regain public support, the emphasis on immigration—especially regarding visas for Indian nationals—could shape the narrative in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Jenrick singled out India during a media interview, asserting that tough visa restrictions should be imposed unless the Indian government takes back its nationals who have entered the UK illegally. He highlighted a staggering estimate of 100,000 Indian nationals believed to be residing in the UK without proper documentation, despite the fact that India was granted 250,000 visas in the past year alone.
Jenrick opposed the slow pace of deportations, which he said remained “stuck in the hundreds,” despite the existence of an India-UK Migration and Mobility Partnership aimed at facilitating the return of illegal migrants.
May 2021 agreement between the UK and India designed to facilitate the return of illegal Indian nationals. In 2023, the UK deported 22,807 illegal migrants, including 3,439 from India. Jenrick has set an ambitious goal to increase total deportations to over 100,000 per year, signaling a significant escalation in the government’s approach to illegal immigration.
Badenoch too favoured this sentiment, highlighting the need to address the cultural disputes that she claims are being brought over from India. In an interview with the BBC, she said, “It is quite clear that there are many people who have recently come to this country who have brought views from their countries of origin that have no place here.”
Badenoch seemingly referred to incidents of unrest in Leicester following an India-Pakistan cricket match in September 2022, suggesting that new arrivals must leave their past differences behind to foster unity in the UK.
Both the candidates face competition from former Cabinet ministers James Cleverly and Tom Tugendhat. The Conservative Party conference in Birmingham will serve as a critical platform for these leaders to present their visions and policies to MPs, who will soon vote to narrow the field down to the final two candidates. Those finalists will then face a wider vote among Conservative Party members, with a new leader expected to be announced on November 2.
