UK Visa & ImmigrationNov 2, 2026·1 min read·🔥 High relevance

Shabana Mahmood sets out changes to settlement rules for legal migrants – video

The Guardian – UK Immigration

1d ago

Shabana Mahmood sets out changes to settlement rules for legal migrants – video

Summary

Shabana Mahmood addressed the Commons to outline a revised set of proposals to the UK's legal migration system, softening plans to force low-paid workers to wait 15 years before settlement that resulted in a backlash from fellow cabinet ministers and backbench Labour MPs. Under pressure from health unions to make an exception for care workers, the home secretary's policy would now allow up to 300,000 people to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years UK politics live – latest updates Shabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash Continue reading...

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But the BBC understands that social care workers already in the UK are now likely to be exempt from the longer wait.[1]

Under pressure from health unions, the home secretary has moved to allow an estimated 280,000 care workers and their dependants to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years.[2]

Miatta Fahnbulleh initially did not explicitly back the government's proposals The energy minister has insisted she backs Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms after she made what she described as a "light-hearted remark".[3]

But the package of proposals outlined on Thursday is still a radical hardening of the rules for those wishing to settle permanently in the UK.[4]

The Guardian – UK Immigration1d ago

But the package of proposals outlined on Thursday is still a radical hardening of the rules for those wishing to settle permanently in the UK.

The Guardian – UK Immigration(this article)1d ago

The Guardian – UK Immigration1d ago

Under pressure from health unions, the home secretary has moved to allow an estimated 280,000 care workers and their dependants to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years.

The Guardian – UK Immigration2d ago

BBC News – UK3d ago

But the BBC understands that social care workers already in the UK are now likely to be exempt from the longer wait.

BBC News – UKOct 22, 2026

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Mahmood scraps settlement plans for migrant care workers

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