United Kingdom Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated that the government may reconsider plans to make it more difficult for foreign workers to secure permanent residency in the country.
Mahmood came under pressure from several Labour MPs, including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, as well as trade unions, over proposals that could significantly extend the period migrants must spend in the UK before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain.
Speaking at Labour’s annual conference, Mahmood acknowledged concerns about the proposals, saying, “some have said elements of these reforms are not fair”.
She added that the government would “come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally and fairness to British citizens across this country”.
Indefinite leave to remain allows eligible migrants to live, work and study in the UK indefinitely and apply for benefits when they meet the relevant requirements.
Under Mahmood’s proposed reforms, the standard qualifying period for permanent residency could increase from five years to 10 years.
Some migrants who entered the UK through health and social care routes could face waits of up to 15 years.
Rayner had previously criticised the proposals while serving as a backbench MP, accusing the government of “moving the goalposts” and describing Mahmood’s plans as “un-British”. She maintained her criticism after returning to the cabinet.
Unison general secretary Andrea Egan also criticised the proposed changes, arguing that they would unfairly affect overseas care workers.
However, Home Office sources said no final decision had been made on changes to the immigration rules, with Mahmood’s conference speech instead setting out the principles that would guide the government’s eventual decision.
The home secretary told Labour delegates, “As we restore control and fairness to our asylum system, we must do the same for legal migration too.
“Fair to those who seek a new and better life here, like my parents did, and fair to those already here, including British workers, and especially the young.
“That same principle underpins my reforms to the right to live here indefinitely, ensuring settled status is earned by those who have shown a consistent commitment to this country.”
Mahmood also pledged to develop a policy that would be fair to migrants who “came here legally” as well as British citizens.
Meanwhile, a Conservative spokesperson accused Mahmood of abandoning her original position, saying, “Shabana Mahmood has caved in to pressure from Angela Rayner and her open borders MPs and will shred her own plans to reform indefinite leave to remain.
“This is a slap in the face to British taxpayers who will have to subsidise low-skilled, low wage migrants.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham, speaking earlier, rejected the suggestion that Mahmood had been forced to abandon the proposals because of Rayner’s criticism that they were “un-British”.
He said the reforms would need to “strike the right balance”.
Asked by LBC whether he was “Team Shabana” or “Team Angela,” Burnham said: “I’m both of them, I’m Team Angela and Shabana.
“But it just reflects that there’s a consultation, there’s different not just opinions from politicians, but obviously there’s a range of views that have gone into that consultation, so we’re in the process now of looking at that.”
