Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is weighing exemptions to proposed immigration rule changes after a backlash from Labour MPs and a critical speech by former deputy Angela Rayner. The plans, announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, would extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years for most applicants.
Under the proposals, which are subject to a government consultation, certain groups could be exempted, including public sector workers and those close to settlement. However, Downing Street confirmed on Wednesday that the exemptions would not cover all existing migrants, as Rayner and others had demanded.
The changes aim to reduce net migration, which reached record levels under the previous government. Mahmood argued that without action, 350,000 low-skilled workers and dependents would qualify for settlement over the next five years, gaining access to welfare and social housing.
Critics, including a group of 100 Labour MPs, signed a letter opposing the retrospective application of the rules. Rayner described the policy as “un-British,” saying it undermines fair play. The government is now reviewing consultation responses to determine the scope of exemptions, with some high earners and public sector workers potentially qualifying faster.
