Migration is a moral issue for Burnham – but is he trying to please everyone?

Andy Burnham has backed Shabana Mahmood’s plans to restrict migration while arguing that the rules should also recognise migrants’ contribution to the UK. The article says this balancing act reflects Labour’s effort to restore public confidence in border control without presenting migration only as a problem.

The reforms retain retrospective changes and could make some small boat arrivals wait up to 30 years before applying for settlement. Most migrants face a proposed rise in the settlement wait from five to 10 years, while nearly 300,000 care workers and people judged to make a strong contribution may qualify after five years. Reform UK has called the care-worker exemption a retreat, while Burnham describes the approach as fair.