Sir Keir Starmer faces another backbench revolt as 35 Labour MPs, the head of the Unison trade union, and dozens of civil society organisations urge the Government to abandon tougher migration plans. In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, they criticise her “deeply unfair” crackdown on indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
The group calls on Ms Mahmood to scrap plans that would double the time most migrants must wait for ILR, from the current period to ten years. They also demand that the reforms not be applied retrospectively, arguing that thousands of families have planned their lives based on existing rules. The letter states: “The Government must uphold its promises – we cannot simply change the rules halfway through an agreed process.”
One Labour source warned that those opposing the changes risked “ignoring the voters at their peril.” The Government intends to extend the ILR qualifying period and grant settled status only after ten years, subject to specific conditions. A health minister recently acknowledged that the impact on NHS staff is unknown, though doctors and nurses are exempt. However, social care and private healthcare workers—some of whom handle NHS contracted cases—would be affected.
The policy was announced last year as part of Labour’s efforts to toughen its immigration stance and reduce arrivals. Labour backbenchers have previously condemned the crackdown as “shameful” and “un-British” during a Westminster Hall debate.
