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Shabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash
Shabana Mahmood has revised plans to extend the wait for low-paid workers to settle permanently in the UK, after objections from cabinet ministers, Labour MPs, unions and care providers. Care workers earning more than £25,000 will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, while most workers below degree level will face a ten-year route rather than the proposed 15 years.
The Home Office estimates that 146,000 care workers and 136,000 dependants could use the five-year route. Around 100,000 skilled workers, including butchers and chefs, will face a ten-year wait; the highest earners, above £125,000, may qualify in three years. The proposals retain much longer waits for some refugees: people arriving by small boat and relying on public funds could wait at least 30 years.
In short
- Care workers earning over £25,000 can qualify after five years.
- Most lower-paid workers face ten years, not 15.
- Some small-boat refugees could wait at least 30 years.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the revised plans can argue that settlement should reflect contribution and self-sufficiency, while longer routes for many workers give the government more control over migration. Keeping a five-year route for care workers above £25,000 recognises their role in a vital sector, and the shorter period than first proposed shows that policy can be adjusted where it risks harming employers and services.
The case against
Critics can argue that even a ten-year wait leaves workers in prolonged uncertainty, makes it harder to plan family life and may deter people from jobs the UK needs. They may also question whether tying settlement to pay fairly reflects the contribution of lower-paid workers, and whether waits of at least 30 years for some refugees are proportionate or compatible with a humane approach to protection.
Explained simply
Indefinite leave to remain lets someone live in the UK permanently, without needing to extend a visa. Many people who move to the UK for work or safety first have temporary permission, and the time they must wait before applying depends on their circumstances.
Shabana Mahmood is the home secretary, responsible for immigration policy. Her department’s plans set different settlement waiting periods for groups including care workers, other workers and refugees; ministers, Labour MPs, unions and care providers have raised concerns about the effects on workers and services such as social care.
The rules matter to people planning their lives in the UK and to employers who rely on migrant staff. They also shape how the government balances immigration controls with the need for workers and its approach to people seeking refuge.
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