# In The Room | Has Shabana Mahmood gone soft on immigration?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-the-room-has-shabana-mahmood-gone-soft-on-immigration/
- Published: 2026-11-04T08:51:28+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T03:11:54+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/in-the-room/shabana-mahmood-labour-immigration-uk-politics-b3078840.html
- Topics: Cricket, Politics, Sport

## Key points

- Mahmood dropped the proposed 15-year wait for many migrant care workers.
- Wider settlement reforms remain largely intact.
- Labour MPs and the Conservatives criticise the policy from different angles.

## Summary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has dropped plans that would have made many migrant care workers wait up to 15 years for permanent settlement. The change came amid growing political pressure and has prompted debate over whether Labour can maintain public confidence in its immigration policy while addressing concerns about the reforms.

The wider reform to Indefinite Leave to Remain remains largely in place. The Conservatives say the change will cost taxpayers billions, while Labour MPs disagree over whether the reforms go too far or whether Mahmood has weakened the government’s approach to immigration; the article does not give a cost estimate.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.