Shabana Mahmood to Unveil Tougher Settlement Rules as Andy Burnham Declines to Say Net Migration Still Too High

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce final plans that will force foreign workers, including those already in the UK, to wait a decade or more before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Under the proposals first unveiled last November, most workers would face a 10-year wait instead of five, while care workers could be forced to wait 15 years. The changes have sparked significant controversy, with Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham among those arguing that care workers deserve more lenient treatment. When asked whether net migration was still too high, Burnham declined to give a direct answer, highlighting the political sensitivity of the issue. The announcement comes as the government seeks to reduce legal migration, but critics warn that extending settlement timelines could worsen staff shortages in key sectors like social care. With final details still under wraps, all eyes are on Mahmood’s statement to MPs this afternoon to see whether the government has softened its stance on care workers or stuck to its original hardline approach.