Portrait of John Major
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John Major on Immigration

Critical of scale (strong)

TL;DR

Sir John Major views current high net migration levels as socially unsustainable, though he praises immigrant contributions to the UK.

Key Points

  • He called the high number of migrants arriving in the UK in the year before a 2025 speech 'obviously socially unsustainable'.

  • He criticized the former government's Rwanda asylum scheme as 'un-Conservative and un-British' and unconscionable.

  • During his premiership, the government under him focused on controlling migration, aiming for net migration in the 'tens of thousands' annually, a level seen in the 1980s and 1990s.

Summary

Sir John Major has expressed significant concern regarding the contemporary scale of immigration into the United Kingdom, describing the high numbers, such as 950,000 migrants arriving in the preceding year, as 'obviously socially unsustainable.' He warns that the long-term demand to enter the UK will persist, but asserts there is a practical limit to how many the nation can absorb. He suggested that a long-term solution may require a pan-European effort, noting that many European nations face the same issue. Major also contended that cutting aid and investment to poorer countries is shortsighted, as it will only accelerate the demand to migrate due to increased hardship.

Despite his concerns over scale, the former Prime Minister has also taken time to praise the positive impact of migration. He has applauded the 'guts and drive' of immigrants in the UK, recognising that many add vital contributions to the economy, including in schools, hospitals, and local businesses. In contrast to his view on high volume, he also criticized the former Conservative government's Rwanda scheme, calling it 'un-Conservative and un-British' and suggesting it was not a suitable policy for the 21st century.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sir John Major stated in a 2025 speech that the current scale of immigration, citing 950,000 arrivals in the previous year, is 'obviously socially unsustainable.' He believes there is a practical limit to how many people the UK can absorb, regardless of the positive contributions migrants make. He considers the long-term demand to enter the country unlikely to disappear without broader policy changes.

According to a September 2024 report, John Major strongly criticized the former Conservative government's Rwanda scheme, calling it 'un-Conservative and un-British' and 'unchristian.' He expressed that he did not believe such a policy of 'transportation' was suitable for the 21st century and that he disliked 'the way society has come to regard immigration as an ill'.

While Sir John Major praised the 'guts and drive' of immigrants in the UK, he has expressed concern over high net migration figures in his later commentary. During his premiership, his government aimed for net migration levels seen in the 1980s and 1990s, suggesting a desire for control that contrasts with current high figures.