good afternoon. the government will set out its plans for cutting legal migration this afternoon. latest figures showed it hit a record high last year, with almost three quarters of a million more people arriving in the uk than leaving. the prime minister rishi sunak has been under pressure over the issue and today in the commons, his new home secretary james cleverley is expected to announce the minimum salary for skilled workers coming from overseas will be significantly increased. our political correspondent ione wells reports. the population grew by about 1% last year, the fastest rate since the 19605 year, the fastest rate since the 1960s baby boom. this time it was driven by international migration, which ministers have pledged to reduce. , . ., ., reduce. i m very clear that the levels of reduce. i m very clear that the levels of net reduce. i m very clear that the levels of net migration - reduce. i m very clear that the levels of net migration are - reduce. i m
down and manage expectations that labour would suddenly be able to change that in a matter of weeks. there is a concern among some in labour that the excitement from some would quickly turn to disappointment when that realisation hits. i think what we know from what labour have said about the speech is keir starmer will say the uk faces huge constraints on public spending. and that anyone expecting a labour government to quickly turn on the spending tops will be disappointed. and hanging heavy in the air here in westminster is that election next year, is the prospect of that. and knowing the economy will be central to it, the debate around the economy and who is trusted most to govern the public finance will be a central part of that election, and really keir starmer in the speech this afternoon is trying to pitch himself and the labour party as the party of economic credibility. he will also say, make and point taxes are higher than at any point since the war. he will be lay