Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has softened proposed changes to immigration rules that would have increased the waiting period for permanent residency in Britain, particularly for foreign care workers. The revisions come after significant opposition from within the Labour Party.
Under the original proposals, nearly 300,000 foreign care workers were set to face considerably longer waits for settlement status. However, a series of concessions mean that approximately three-quarters of these workers, over 282,000 individuals, will continue to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after a five-year period. Those who do not meet the criteria within five years will be granted a new five-year visa and a second opportunity to qualify.
The changes also affect waiting times for other categories of workers and some asylum seekers. Mahmood stated that settled status must now be earned, with those who contribute most settling faster, while those who do not adhere to the rules will face refusal or longer waiting periods.
Critics, including Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, argued that the move represents a "substantial climbdown" and could cost taxpayers an estimated £10 billion in welfare and public spending. Philp asserted that over 250,000 low-wage care workers and their dependents, some potentially arriving fraudulently, will now be allowed to stay for at least ten years, with 75% eligible for permanent residency.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described Mahmood as "humiliated" by the situation, arguing that the original plan to extend waiting times for permanent settlement and benefits access was reasonable. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the development "the beginning of the capitulation" and highlighted the significant financial implications.
While the five-year ILR route will remain for certain public sector roles, other workers previously facing a 15-year wait could now qualify in ten years. Mahmood had previously warned that failing to implement her original plan would lead to a "£10billion drain on public finances" and be an "affront to the idea of fairness."
Some Labour backbenchers also expressed reservations about the modified reforms. MP Diane Abbott deemed them "unfair," drawing comparisons to the Windrush scandal, while MP John McDonnell questioned extended settlement times for small-boat migrants. Unison general secretary Andrea Egan welcomed Mahmood's decision to "not implement the worst aspects" of the initial proposals.