Nearly 1million people living in UK can’t speak English as Labour urged to ‘get a grip’

Labour is under growing pressure to take stronger action on immigration, as new census data shows that nearly one million people in the UK cannot speak English.

While most migrants over 16 can speak English—with 51.6% saying it’s their main language and 38.4% saying they can speak it well—8.6% (794,332 people) struggle to speak English effectively, and 1.4% (137,876 people) cannot speak it at all.

These figures come from the 2021 UK census and were shared with the Conservative Party, sparking strong criticism and calls for Labour to address immigration more decisively.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp expressed shock at the number of people in the UK who cannot speak English, saying, “It’s unbelievable that so many people in the country can’t speak English.

Labour needs to get a grip on immigration, and fast.” Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has suggested that immigrants should wait 15 years—instead of the current six—before applying for British citizenship.

She argued that immigration has been too fast, making it difficult for meaningful integration, and that a UK passport should be a privilege, not an automatic right.

However, since the 2021 census data was collected while the Conservatives were in power, they are also being blamed for the current immigration situation. Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage has criticized the Tories for failing to manage immigration effectively during their time in government.

Recent official data from December revealed another record-breaking year for immigration, with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reporting that 906,000 people were added to the UK’s population in the year ending June 2023. This was 166,000 higher than earlier estimates. Brian Bell, chairman of the Migration Advisory Committee, said the UK should expect net migration to settle at around 300,000 to 350,000 per year in the long term, which is higher than in previous decades but lower than current levels.

A government spokesperson said they are working closely with local authorities and faith communities to understand the housing and integration needs of new arrivals and to ensure positive outcomes for everyone.