Mahmood set to soften migrant settlement rules after cabinet backlash

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 31 Oct, 14:21 · Archive

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to exempt social care workers from toughened immigration settlement requirements after pressure from within government.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing to soften immigration proposals that would have extended the time required for foreign workers to obtain permanent settlement in the UK. Under the original plans, the baseline qualification period for indefinite leave to remain was set to double from five years to ten, with lower-paid foreign workers facing waits of up to fifteen years before securing permanent residency.

The changes follow significant pressure from within government and the Labour Party. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner criticised the original proposals as 'un-British', and trade unions have lobbied Mahmood to revise the rules because of their potential impact on social care staff. The Prime Minister also refused to publicly back the plans in his first live television interview this week. A government consultation on the proposals attracted more than 200,000 responses.

Mahmood's ministerial colleagues have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency regarding the impact of the changes. The Guardian reports that sources say the home secretary repeatedly refused to reveal how much she expects homelessness to rise as a result of the asylum system changes. One person with knowledge of the standoff said the issue had caused 'huge amount of frustration among other ministers'. The Home Office has said it cannot quantify the exact impact because details have not yet been finalised, and insists the new system will be designed to minimise impact on destitution and homelessness.

Social care workers are now expected to be exempted from the lengthened timetable. Most other foreign workers are still expected to face the extended ten-year residency requirement, though the duration could be reduced for individuals earning higher incomes or demonstrating sustained contributions to their communities.

Mahmood had pressed for the stricter regime amid concerns in Whitehall over the number of legal arrivals approaching eligibility for settlement following record net migration figures under the previous Conservative administration. The final decisions are expected to be announced to Parliament next week.

How it is being reported

• Shabana Mahmood 'is set to water down her migrant crackdown for around half a million migrants next week who will dodge tough new right-to-remain rules'Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (pictured) is believed to revise rules for low paid legal migrants currently working in social care next week.Daily Mail · 31 Oct, 14:10
• ‘Was I not enough?’: care worker barred from meeting home secretaryNigerian care worker Kolade says he was left in tears after being excluded from talks with Shabana Mahmood over proposed changes to immigration system Kolade had carefully prepared what he would tell the home secretary about the elderly people he cares for, the life his family had built in Britain and how her immigration proposals could threaten both. The meeting with Shabana Mahmood had already been rescheduled twice. When the third date fell during a holiday, he cut his trip short to travel to London. But hours before the meeting was due to take place, it was cancelled after Mahmood…The Guardian · 31 Oct, 14:00
• Shabana Mahmood’s migrant crackdown watered down AGAIN as nearly 1,000 cross Channel in 48 hoursShabana Mahmood's migrant crackdown is set to watered down again as almost 1,000 poured into Britain via small boats within 48 hours. Under the Home Secretary's proposals, the wait for migrants to obtain permanent residency would double from five to 10 years. Her plans would also see the wait for some lower-paid migrants to gain indefinite leave to remain (ILR) increased to 15 years. The announced crackdown sparked fury among Labour backbenchers, with now-Housing Secretary Angela Rayner branding them "un-British". And now, Government whips have been attempting to avoid a civil war within the…GB News · 31 Oct, 13:20
• Shabana Mahmood ‘to dilute immigration plans’ after Labour backlashSocial care staff to be spared 15-year settlement wait following cabinet revolt over ‘un-British’ immigration rule changesThe Independent · 31 Oct, 13:02
• Mahmood infuriates fellow ministers by failing to reveal impact of UK migration shake-upHome secretary’s colleagues fear homelessness will rise as a result of changes to the asylum system Shabana Mahmood has infuriated ministerial colleagues by failing to share what they see as crucial information about the impact of her migration changes. Sources say the home secretary has repeatedly refused to reveal how much she expects homelessness to rise as a result of changes to the asylum system. Continue reading...The Guardian · 30 Oct, 07:00

In this story: Shabana Mahmood · Angela Rayner · Unison · UK

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