Nearly 1 Million in UK Struggle with English, Sparks Integration Concerns

Recent census data reveals that nearly one million people in England cannot speak English well or at all, raising significant concerns about migrant integration. Of the 932,208 individuals born overseas, 8.6% cannot speak English well and 1.4% are entirely unable to communicate in the language. Although the majority of migrants over 16 report English as their main language, these figures have prompted criticism from Conservative politicians, including Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who argues that Labour must address immigration more effectively. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has suggested that citizenship applications should be delayed to encourage better integration. The data, disclosed by the UK Statistics Authority, reflects figures from the 2021 Census and has reignited debates over immigration policies and the handling of the asylum system. As the Labour government faces demands for stricter integration requirements, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to reduce net migration and enhance training for domestic workers.