Shabana Mahmood Set To U-Turn On Immigration Crackdown After Labour Backlash
Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce a U-turn on her immigration crackdown following a Labour backlash. The home secretary will unveil details of the long-awaited reforms in a Commons statement on Monday. She initially said she wanted to delay awarding indefinite leave to remain (ILR) to legal migrants for up to 15 years, including to many who already live and work in the UK. Speaking in March, she said that without reform some 350,000 low-skilled workers and their dependants would qualify for settlement – and access to benefits – over the next five years.
However, her plans came under fire, with Mahmood’s cabinet colleague Angela Rayner describing them as “un-British” . Energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh also refused to back the proposals seven times during an excruciating interview on Sky News. And last week, prime minister Andy Burnham said he strongly supported that ILR was a “right to be earned”, but stopped short of committing to bringing in all of the home secretary’s reforms. At the Labour Party conference in September, Mahmood hinted that she was prepared to water down her proposals in order to win the backing of her cabinet as well as left-wing Labour MPs.
She said: “I know that, throughout our consultation process, some have said elements of these reforms are not fair. “And to that, let me say this: we will come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally and fairness to British citizens across this country.” It is understood that foreign care workers who are already living in the UK will be exempt from the changes. The climbdown is likely to be enough to secure the backing of Rayner and Fahnbulleh, but it remains to be seen if it will prevent a rebellion by left-wing Labour backbenchers.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never says that most other foreign workers are still expected to face the extended 10-year residency requirement. Without it, the headline's "U-Turn On Immigration Crackdown" and Philp's closing claims leave a reader believing the whole reform has been abandoned. In fact it has been narrowed for one group.
How we know
- The Independent reported“Most other foreign workers are still expected to face an extended 10-year residency requirement before becoming eligible to settle”Shabana Mahmood ‘to dilute immigration plans’ after Labour backlash (opens in a new tab)
Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp wrote on X: “It’s clear Shabana Mahmood has been forced to surrender to Angela Rayner and the open-borders Labour left. “She will now allow hundreds of thousands of low-wage and no-wage migrants to stay in the UK forever and claim benefits. “By Mahmood’s own admission in a speech this March, letting low wage care workers alone stay forever will cost taxpayers £10 billion and be an ‘affront’. “Now it looks likes she’s about to do exactly that.
After talking tough all year, Mahmood appears to have capitulated control of immigration policy to Angela Rayner – and Mahmood’s position is looking increasingly untenable.” Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
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