200,000 migrants granted right to remain amid Labour policy delay

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 19 Oct, 10:57 · Archive

More than 200,000 people have been granted indefinite leave to remain since Labour proposed tougher restrictions last year.

More than 200,000 people who arrived legally on visas have been granted indefinite leave to remain since the government proposed tougher restrictions last year. Indefinite leave to remain entitles holders to lifetime benefits, NHS care and social housing.

Last year, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood proposed that the qualifying period for settlement should be doubled from five to ten years. However, the plan has stalled following opposition within the Labour Party, led by Angela Rayner and trade unions. Mahmood recently signalled she may have to water down the proposals.

Meanwhile, approximately 5,000 people who have lived in the UK for five years gain settlement each week under the current rules. The numbers are expected to rise further as migrants who arrived during the post-pandemic immigration surge become eligible.

Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, accused Mahmood of lacking courage. He stated that she continues to refuse to implement her own changes despite admitting they are needed to save £10 billion. He suggested her delay stems from fear of opposition within the Labour Party.

How it is being reported

• Labour slammed as 200,000 migrants given right to remain - ‘not brave enough’Labour is making reforms to Indefinite Leave to Remain.Daily Express · 19 Oct, 10:40
• The true cost of Labour's migration dithering: At least 200,000 are given the right to remain since crackdown promise, official figures showThousands of migrants are settling permanently in Britain every week while Labour bickers over a proposed crackdown.Daily Mail · 18 Oct, 23:59

In this story: Labour · Shabana Mahmood · Angela Rayner · Chris Philp · Yvette Cooper · UK

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