Andy Burnham has stepped back from his previous calls to scrap the 'no recourse to public funds' (NRPF) rule, which restricts immigrants from claiming benefits. The Greater Manchester mayor, now Labour's candidate in the Makerfield byelection, had previously urged ministers to end the policy, citing its role in driving homelessness.
In 2023, Burnham signed a joint letter with Greater Manchester borough mayors asking the then-Conservative government to change the NRPF rules to provide a 'minimum safety net' for non-UK nationals facing homelessness. In 2019, he explicitly called to 'abolish the no recourse to public funds policy' on his mayoral website.
A spokesperson for Burnham now says he recognises the need for a 'fair' immigration system and 'control as well as compassion'. It is understood that if elected and later becoming prime minister, Burnham would re-examine such policies to tackle rough sleeping.
The shift follows Burnham's support last week for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's controversial immigration changes, though he called for a 'real' consultation on settled status rules. Burnham faces a direct challenge from Reform UK in the Makerfield byelection.
