# Senior minister’s U-turn to back immigration plan

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/senior-ministers-u-turn-to-back-immigration-plan/
- Published: 2026-10-22T22:08:15+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-22T22:16:01+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16231565/Senior-ministers-U-turn-immigration-plan.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Fahnbulleh now backs the Government’s immigration reforms.
- The proposal could extend settlement waits from five to 15 years.
- Labour MPs have raised concerns as the Government reviews consultation responses.

## Summary

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has publicly backed the Government’s immigration reforms after repeatedly declining earlier in the week to endorse a key proposal. Her reversal follows criticism of plans to extend the wait for permanent settlement, which have prompted unease among Labour MPs.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has proposed increasing the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from five years to as many as 15 for some migrants, including foreign care workers. Fahnbulleh had previously criticised longer waits as harmful to social cohesion, but said on Thursday she supported the reforms and the principle that people should contribute to earn citizenship. The Government is reviewing more than 200,000 consultation responses, and Downing Street has not ruled out changes.

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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.