UK home secretary eases immigration rules for care workers
Shabana Mahmood modifies settlement policy after pressure from cabinet colleagues and health unions.
At a glance
- Original plan required low-paid workers to wait 15 years for UK settlement
- Care workers now able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years
- Change follows backlash from cabinet ministers, backbench MPs and health unions
- Up to 300,000 people could be affected by the exception
The UK home secretary has revised immigration plans that would have required low-paid workers to wait 15 years before settlement. The change follows opposition from cabinet ministers and Labour backbench MPs, as well as pressure from health unions.
Under the revised policy, care workers will be permitted to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, rather than the originally proposed 15-year wait. The exception could affect up to 300,000 people.
Why it matters
The revision reflects tensions within the government over immigration policy and the need to balance settlement rules with labour shortages in the health sector.
Original reporting
- The Guardian — WorldShabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash
- The Guardian — BusinessShabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.
