Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has faced criticism for "caving in" on migrant settlement rights after a backlash from Cabinet colleagues, trade unions, and left-wing campaigners. The Home Office confirmed that care workers will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years—ten years earlier than originally proposed—if they have earned £25,000 per year in the sector.
Plans to restrict benefits to British citizens were also quietly dropped, and the qualifying period for lower-skilled, lower-paid migrants was reduced from 15 to 10 years. The changes also pave the way for illegal arrivals to settle.
Revised estimates show 1.9 million granted settlement
Revised Home Office estimates reveal that 1.9 million foreign nationals will get indefinite leave to remain by 2030, up from the 1.6 million estimate from last November. Only 500,000 migrants will face a longer wait, with 300,000 care workers set to be spared from the crackdown that would have made it harder for them to access benefits, council housing, or free NHS treatment.
The Home Secretary had insisted her original plans were essential to save taxpayers £10 billion. Analysis of the Home Office consultation document showed that 160,000 foreign nationals—83% of respondents—replied to the initial plans, with critics branding the consultation a "farce."
Critics accuse Home Secretary of capitulating
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Shabana Mahmood has caved in to pressure from Angela Rayner and the open borders left. Over 250,000 low wage care workers and dependents - even ones who came fraudulently - will now get to stay for at least ten years and 75% of them can now stay forever."
Philp added: "The government's own figures show the cost of this to taxpayers is £10 billion. This is completely unfair to hard-pressed taxpayers. The Government also said today that illegal immigrants will have a path to citizenship and full benefits. My view is that illegal immigrants should never get citizenship. And foreign citizens, excluding EU Settlement Scheme recipients, should never get benefits to end abuse of hard-working taxpayers."
Reform's Zia Yusuf told the Daily Express: "She isn't U-turning and changing requirements, loosening the requirements for an insignificant part of the 'Boris Wave'. She's doing it for the largest, most financially devastating cohort." He accused Ms Mahmood of "capitulating to Angela Rayner, and the same cabal of mad far-left Labour MPs who also torpedoed the welfare reforms."
Lower-skilled migrants and refugees affected
In a second major climbdown, the Home Office confirmed it is letting lower-skilled, lower-paid migrant workers apply for settlement rights after 10 years, rather than the 15 years originally proposed in November last year. This new arrangement will apply to anyone holding a job below graduate level.
Refugees who arrived on a "safe and legal route" will be put on the same five-year settlement path as migrants earning more than £50,000. Small boat migrants face a 30-year wait, unless they study or work, which reduces it to 20 years. The Centre for Migration Control warned Labour is also paving the way for family members of "low-skill" migrants to settle "at the same time."
Under the new plans, migrants will only get indefinite leave to remain if they have a "spotless criminal record," speak English to the equivalent of A-level standard, have no debt owed to the taxpayer, and a "record of sustained National Insurance contributions." Any criminality will lead to automatic refusal, sources say.
Unions and MPs demand more
UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan said: "UNISON has led the charge against the home secretary's plans, with migrant workers themselves organising an inspiring campaign through the union. So, we are glad she has finally listened to us and not implemented the worst aspects. These plans were morally bankrupt and a threat to public services – they should be dropped altogether."
On care workers, Ms Egan added: "We urgently need a sector-wide visa for social care, ending a system that ties migrant care workers to a single employer and leaves them vulnerable to exploitation, extortion and abuse. The power of employers to threaten workers with deportation or disrupt their route to settlement must end."
Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott criticised the proposals as "unfair" and compared them to the Windrush scandal. She told the Commons: "It is right that care workers are exempted from the new arrangements for ILR, but for the rest of the workforce, the retrospective nature of these new arrangements still seem to be unfair. Because you can come in legally, you can work legally, and then have your residency rights turned upside down. How can that be fair?"
The Home Secretary defended her original proposals by arguing criminal gangs—including drug dealers—had exploited the health and care visa, setting up fraudulent companies and scamming people hoping to move to the UK. She recalled one constituent declaring: "Every drug dealer in Birmingham is now becoming a care provider".
Farage warns of more concessions
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned Britain has become the "softest touch in the World," adding "this is the first crack in the wall," with more concessions set to follow. He said: "Look, in normal countries all around the world: you go on a work visa, you're given a period of time, you have your health insurance, you can't bring your extended family, and after 5 years, 7 years, 8 years, 10 years, whatever it is, you may have the option to settle for citizenship. But more than likely, you'll be told your time is up, and if you don't leave on that date, they'll knock your door down and put you in handcuffs. That's what normal countries do."
Mr Farage's party has vowed to review every single citizenship grant—which typically comes a year after ILR is granted—if they win the next General Election. Reform's Robert Jenrick added: "Only 18% of those who responded to Labour's consultation on immigration were even British! No wonder they wanted open borders. And Labour agreed with them! What a farce."
Some 4.2 million migrants moved to the UK between 2021 and 2024. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood blamed the Conservatives for the migrant crisis, before adding: "Sometimes because of fraudulent and exploitative companies and sometimes because individuals themselves came here knowing there was no job they could fill. A fair solution must address both sides of this. Recognising the service of those who cared for our sick and elderly at a time of immense national need and also addressing the abuse that was present on this route. Everyone will have a fair shot to make their contribution, and no one will be punished for the sins of their employer, but we will also preserve the critical element of this reform: that settlement must be linked to contribution."
