Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood faced questions from MPs about proposed immigration reformsByRichard WheelerPolitical reporterPublished4 February 2026 The home secretary has defended the government's immigration proposals as "fair" amid opposition from Labour MPs over changes to permanent settlement rights. Shabana Mahmood said a "very large number of people" arriving in the UK in an "unprecedented way" in recent years does "demand an answer" from the government. Ministers want to double the time it takes most migrant workers to qualify for permanent residence from five years to 10 years. But around 40 Labour MPs have raised concerns about the impact of the proposals on migrants already living here, describing the retrospective approach as "un-British" and "moving the goalposts". They have warned it could worsen the UK's skills shortage, particularly in the care sector. Settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain, gives a person the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible.
Published: February 4, 2026 4:10 pm
Source: BBC — Read original