Labour slammed as 200,000 migrants given right to remain - ‘not brave enough’

Labour slammed as 200,000 migrants given right to remain - ‘not brave enough’ Labour is making reforms to Indefinite Leave to Remain. Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments By Sarah Barltrop 10:40, Mon, Oct 19, 2026 Updated: 10:41, Mon, Oct 19, 2026 Labour slammed as 200,000 migrants given right to remain (Image: Getty) Labour has been accused of having "no courage" to stick to its own settlement proposals after giving 200,000 migrants the right to remain. More than 200,000 people who arrived legally on visas have been granted indefinite leave to remain (ILR) since tougher restrictions were proposed last year. Last November, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood suggested that a 10-year qualifying period - double the current five years - should be applied retrospectively to people already living and working in the UK who have not yet been granted settled status. But as in-party fighting broke out, led by Angela Rayner , 5,000 people who have lived here for five years have been granted settlement every week. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Chris Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary , told the Daily Mail that Shabana Mahmood "continues to refuse to implement her own indefinite leave to remain changes to stop this". He asked: "Why is she delaying? It's because she's scared of Angela Rayner and the Left of the Labour Party, and she hasn't got the courage to implement her own plans." Migrants who have lived and worked in the UK for five years can claim ILR - also known as settlement - which allows them to live, work, and study in the UK permanently. Get the latest politics news - straight from our team in Westminster and more I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family . Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over. We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. You can unsubscribe at any time. More Info . But last May, Yvette Cooper , who was Home Secretary at the time, proposed a 10-year qualifying period instead, known as "earned settlement", since many people were due to become eligible. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT UK snow forecast as Met Office maps show areas set to be hit on Friday - full list Huge warning issued to anyone taking two common blood pressure medications Angela Rayner described the retrospective plans as 'un-British' (Image: Getty) Its Immigration White Paper said: "More people are likely to become eligible for settlement and then citizenship over the next few years as a result of the extremely high level of net migration between 2019 and 2024." Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Ms Mahmood followed with the subsequent proposals to apply this retrospectively, rather than solely to new arrivals, which Ms Rayner described as "un-British" and a "breach of trust". Britain's largest trade union Unison urged for care workers to be exempt. General secretary Andrea Egan said: "Shabana Mahmood's proposals have fuelled the far-Right." The Home Secretary has since hinted at relaxing her proposals , saying Labour would "come to a position that balances fairness". Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: "Labour's internal bickering means thousands more will get indefinite leave to remain and unfettered access to our welfare system, all because Andy Burnham cannot control Rayner or his backbenchers." Latest official figures show that 199,628 people were granted settlement in the 12 months to June, beginning immediately after the White Paper's call for action, the Daily Mail reports. The Home Office said: "We are considering responses to our consultation on elements of these reforms." Immigration Labour Party Angela Rayner Share Article Share Article Facebook X LinkedIn Reddit Bluesky Email Copy Link Link copied Bookmark Add us as preferred source Comments