The Labour government has softened its immigration policy concerning the settlement system for care workers, a move that comes after significant internal pressure from Labour MPs. The revised plan will allow care workers who arrived before May 2025 and earn at least £25,000 annually to qualify for settlement in five years. This addresses concerns raised by MPs, including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who had previously criticized the original proposals for requiring many social care workers to wait up to 15 years for settlement and for their retrospective nature.
Rayner had described the original plans as "un-British" and criticized the government for shifting "the goalposts." The change of prime minister over the summer had renewed hopes among dissenting Labour MPs that the Home Office would reconsider the policy. While the retrospective element of the plans has not changed, the adjustment for care workers is seen as a significant concession.
Despite internal debates, many Labour MPs largely refrained from strong criticism when Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the changes in the House of Commons. Rachael Maskell was among the more critical voices, while others on the left of the party offered muted critiques. Some in government expressed relief, viewing the announcement as a successful navigation of a political hurdle, with one Number 10 source praising Mahmood's handling of the situation and stating she had "found the right balance."
However, the Conservative opposition has accused Labour of a significant U-turn. Chris Philp, the Conservative Home Secretary, pointed to Mahmood's earlier assertion that quicker settlement for care workers could cost the UK £10 billion. The revised plan is expected to delay the path to settlement for approximately 500,000 people, a reduction from the 800,000 who would have been affected under the original proposals. Mahmood declined to specify the financial implications of the watered-down policy or confirm if Prime Minister Andy Burnham had directly requested the changes.