A Reform-run council has complained to ministers about Labour‘s crackdown on migrant workers in the UK – saying it is too tough.
Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about a new law cutting the number of care worker visas.
But rather than being in favour of the change, Ms Kemkaran, whose party wants to drastically cut legal immigration, has complained that it could leave its services and private providers on a ‘cliff edge’.
In the letter, co-signed by the council’s cabinet Member for adult social care and public health, Diane Morton, she said she had ‘grave concerns’ about the proposed law change.
Under changes laid in Parliament earlier this month, care worker visas will be scrapped and the salary threshold for skilled worker visas will rise from £38,700 to £41,700.
It will also up the threshold to degree level for skilled workers, which will cut eligibility for 111 occupations.
In her letter, Ms Kemkaran wrote: ‘Across the contracts for the Council’s adult social care and health services there are approximately 150 providers we are aware of who have sponsorship licences which is equal to 20-25 per cent of our social care workforce being from overseas…
‘Paired with the changes announced in the autumn Budget in 2024 that resulted in changes to employer National Insurance contributions from April 2025, this is totally unsustainable, and the risk is that many care workers at this level will go home and leave providers on a cliff edge.’
She added: This is obviously a national issue, and it is too early to describe the long-term impact on the council and care providers … however, due to the challenges facing the adult social care system in general, and care providers in particular, we urge you to reconsider these changes and look forward to your support in addressing these urgent pressing matters.’
Ms Kemkaran, pictured earlier this month with Reform leader Nigel Farage, has complained that the clampdown could leave its services and private providers on a ‘cliff edge’.
In the letter, co-signed by the council’s cabinet Member for adult social care and public health, Diane Morton, she said she had ‘grave concerns’ about the proposed law change.
The letter to Yvette Cooper added: ‘Across the contracts for the Council’s adult social care and health services there are approximately 150 providers we are aware of who have sponsorship licences which is equal to 20-25 per cent of our social care workforce being from overseas.’
Kent was one of 10 councils where Reform won control in local elections in May.
Last month the party launched a Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) initiative to cut council spending after taking 677 seats.
The party said it plans to use artificial intelligence, advanced data analysis tools and forensic auditing techniques to ‘identify wasteful spending and recommend actionable solutions’.
It follows the US Doge which was launched during Donald Trump’s presidency to cut federal spending which billionaire Elon Musk spearheaded before his departure.
By population, KCC is the largest local authority in England and Mr Farage’s Reform party took 57 of the 81 seats in the elections on May 1.
Prior to their victory the council had been controlled by the Conservatives for 28 years.
Critics of the Reform-led authority have pointed to a lack of council meetings and conflicting announcements made via social media since it took power.
Cllr Antony Hook, the Lib Dem opposition leader on Kent County Council, said: ‘Reform in Kent seem to be completely unaware that their own party is leading the demonisation of people who have moved to the UK to care for the elderly and disabled.
‘If they got their way, the social care crisis here in Kent and across the country would get even worse.
‘The Liberal Democrats have been pushing for a higher Carer’s Minimum Wage to tackle this crisis, but the Conservative government made a deliberate choice to bring in low-paid workers from overseas instead of paying carers properly.
‘Imposing crippling Home Office fees on top of the Government’s misguided jobs tax will just make the crisis even worse, pushing many care homes to the brink and leaving our loved ones in the lurch. Time for Nigel Farage to realise that.’