AS regular readers will know, for however few migrants we may have in Cornwall (unless you count people from across the Tamar), I have chosen to discuss the issue of immigration quite frequently in these weekly columns. It is a topic often raised with me on the doorstep and during meetings with constituents across Cornwall.

Net migration rose significantly under the Conservative Government, with one of the major contributors being the expansion of the Health and Care Worker visa route following an exodus in European care workers coming over post-Brexit. This enabled employers in the health and social care sectors to recruit staff from further afield in order to fill workforce shortages.

Amidst a care system we inherited under massive pressure, our Government is doing what is needed: Adopting a pragmatic approach. While we must continue to deliver on our promise of bringing overall immigration numbers down, we also need to ensure that this is not done at the expense of the social care workforce, particularly here in Cornwall, where we have an ageing population and an acutely growing demand for care services.

Recent visa reforms are striking this balance, with new guidance issued after concerns from the care sector that things were moving too fast too quickly. Since 2025, overseas recruitment for care worker roles has been restricted, helping to reduce our over-reliance in migration within the sector – the right thing to do over the longer-term. Still, that shift to training our domestic workforce takes time, and we are ensuring those who have already laid roots in Britain with their Health and Care Worker visas can continue their life here and the major contribution they make to our country.

Care workers already living, working and contributing to the system, yet whose employer is no longer able to support their visa, are now automatically able to seek sponsorship from another approved employer. In addition, individuals already living and working legally in the UK may be able to switch onto the Health and Care Worker route if they meet the relevant requirements. Practical approaches to these visas – as opposed to completely “shutting” our boarders – is critically important, given the distinct challenges facing social care, which Prime Minister Andy Burnham rightly spoke of in his Conference Speech.

We need to ensure we have the workforce for the future. At present, vacancies in our key sectors remain high and many providers are up against recruitment and retention difficulties, set against a long-standing NEETs crisis. Part of tackling the problem involves training more people here in the UK to pursue careers in care and ensuring that care work is properly valued in the way it deserves. Our Labour Government’s Care Workforce Pathway introduces a national career framework for adult social care that provides clearer progression routes and opportunities for professional development. Likewise, I welcome our Labour government’s much-needed sector-wide plan for a Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care.

The challenge facing Britain is not choosing between secure borders and a strong social care system. We need both. That means reducing reliance on overseas recruitment over the long-term, investing in British workers, improving pay and conditions in the care sector, and ensuring those who already contribute to our communities can continue to do so. That is the balanced and pragmatic approach that I believe Cornwall wants to see.