Shabana Mahmood urged to heed Labour opposition to 15-year settlement plan

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been urged to heed opposition within the Labour Party to her proposed changes to permanent residency for foreign workers.

The plan would increase the waiting period from five to 15 years and could apply retrospectively to people who arrived in the UK from 2021 onwards.

Government still considering changes

Downing Street said Mahmood was reviewing more than 200,000 responses to a consultation before finalising the policy. The prime minister’s spokesperson did not rule out changes, including to transitional arrangements for people already in the UK.

Mahmood had previously indicated that care workers might be exempted from the new requirements. The Home Office has warned that such an exemption could lead to foreign workers leaving the sector once they were no longer bound by their visa conditions.

Labour split over the proposal

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh repeatedly avoided saying whether she supported the specific 15-year waiting period. She said she fully backed Mahmood and reforms based on people’s contribution to the country.

Mike Tapp, a former immigration minister and opponent of the plan, said Mahmood should “read the room”. He argued that people who had genuinely worked in the sector should retain the right to apply for settlement after five years.

Angela Rayner has also criticised the proposals, while dozens of Labour MPs oppose them. Campaigners believe they may secure an exemption for care workers, but the final rules have not been set.