News imageThe Briefing Room, Part 2: How's the government doing on immigration?

The Briefing Room

Part 2: How's the government doing on immigration?

30 July 2026

Available for over a year

According to polls immigration remains near the top - or at the top - of public concerns. And now a new prime minister inherits that popular anxiety. Last week The Briefing Room examined arguably the most visible aspect of the migration question: the small boats, asylum seeking and illegal migration.

This week we look at legal migration, the issue of reliance on overseas workers, changes to indefinite leave to remain and public opinion about migration.

Guests:

Madeleine Sumption, Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford and author of What is Immigration Policy for?

Dominic Casciani, BBC Home and Legal correspondent

Rob Ford, Professor of Political Science at the University of Manchester

Production team:

Presenter: David Aaronovitch

Producers: Ben Carter and Kirsteen Knight

Editor: Richard Vadon

Sound engineers: Duncan Hannant

Sound mix: James Beard

Production co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed, Maria Ogundele