# Shabana Mahmood has barely softened her plans – Britain’s immigration regime is now a theatre of cruelty | Owen Jones

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/shabana-mahmood-has-barely-softened-her-plans-britains-immigration-regime-is-now-a-theatre-of-cruelty-owen-jones/
- Published: 2026-11-03T11:14:54+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T23:07:25+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/nov/03/shabana-mahmood-immigration-theatre-cruelty-labour
- Topics: Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Most migrant workers would face a 10-year route to permanent settlement.
- Eligible care workers retain a five-year route after a Labour backlash.
- Owen Jones argues that the concession leaves the policy’s main harms in place.

## Summary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has set out an ‘earned settlement’ plan that would make most migrant workers wait 10 years, rather than five, before applying to live in the UK permanently. People earning more than £50,000, and some workers in health and education, would retain a five-year route; those earning more than £125,000 could apply after three years. Following criticism within Labour, care workers who meet specified visa and earnings conditions would also retain a five-year route. Mahmood says the changes would recognise migrants’ contributions while reducing future welfare costs. The government has yet to publish a full impact assessment.

In his opinion column, Owen Jones argues that the care-worker concession leaves the central policy largely intact and unfairly changes expectations for people already living in the UK. He also criticises the longer wait faced by lower-paid workers and the proposed settlement conditions for people who have received certain state support. His description of the regime as cruel is an argument, rather than a finding of fact. The dispute centres on whether the government’s approach fairly balances its stated aims with the effects on migrants, employers and public services.

## Coverage

- [The Guardian: Shabana Mahmood has barely softened her plans – Britain’s immigration regime is now a theatre of cruelty | Owen Jones](https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/nov/03/shabana-mahmood-immigration-theatre-cruelty-labour)
- [GOV.UK: Earned settlement](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretary-earned-settlement-statement)

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