Reform UK Kent Leader Urges Government to Reverse Health, Social Care Visa Cuts

The leader of Kent County Council (KCC), Linden Kemkaran of Reform UK, has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Care Minister Stephen Kinnock expressing serious concerns over the government's plans to end the health and social care visa route for overseas workers. Approximately 20-25% of KCC's social care workforce consists of overseas workers relying on sponsorship licenses, and the closure of this visa route, combined with increased employer National Insurance contributions, risks causing a significant loss of care staff and placing providers on a 'cliff edge.' Kemkaran and KCC's social care cabinet member, Diane Morton, highlighted that many care providers have not been formally notified of these changes, which could exacerbate already growing demands and costs in social care. The government defends the visa closure as necessary to address abuse and exploitation concerns but has pledged a funding boost of up to £3.7 billion to support social care authorities in 2025-26. Reform UK, despite its broader commitment to reducing net migration, is urging the government to reconsider these visa restrictions to avoid destabilizing local care services. The situation underscores tensions between immigration policy goals and urgent social care workforce needs.