Hostile environment, Brexit and missed targets: 14 years of Tory immigration policy

Since the 2010 general election in Britain rhetoric on migration has become more polarising and toxic, and the goal of reducing net migration has persisted, writes Erica Consterdine

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gives an update last year on the UK's plan to "stop the boats" and illegal migration. The immigration system as it has evolved over the last 14 years has been ad hoc, piecemeal and reactive to populist politics.

Migration is a top issue for some voters and candidates in the UK’s general election. The last 14 years of Conservative policy have introduced restrictive policies on both legal and irregular migration. And yet, net migration stands at 685,000, a near historic high.

Since the Conservatives entered office in 2010 and introduced a pledge to reduce net migration, these targets have been part of the political conversation. The general election campaign so far suggests not much has changed.