Mahmood Signals U-Turn on Indefinite Leave Reforms as Labour Revolts

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has signalled she will water down her controversial plans to make it harder for foreign workers to claim indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Speaking at Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool on 28 September, Mahmood acknowledged that some elements of her reforms were unfair and said the government would find a position balancing fairness for legal migrants and British citizens. Her comments follow intense pressure from over 100 Labour MPs, including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, trade unions, and hundreds of care workers protesting outside the conference.

What Mahmood originally proposed

Mahmood’s plans would have extended the timeline for permanent residence from five to 15 years for social care workers on health and care visas. The changes would apply retrospectively to people who arrived since 2021. Most other migrants would have faced a 10-year wait instead of five years. Last year the government banned care workers from bringing family dependants with them as part of efforts to reduce net migration.

Why Labour is in revolt

Angela Rayner, the housing secretary, has branded the proposals “un-British” and accused Mahmood of moving the goalposts for workers already in the UK. Andrea Egan, general secretary of Unison, told The i Paper that the changes would unfairly penalise overseas care workers. Hundreds of migrant care workers protested outside the Labour conference in Liverpool wearing chains, demanding the government keep its original five-year promise. Care worker Barbara Tanyanyiwa from Zimbabwe told The Mirror: “They promised us five years, so we want them to keep the promise.”

What happens next

Mahmood has invited key union leaders to meet in the coming days to outline her response to the Labour revolt. Union sources expect the Cabinet minister to move quickly rather than appear to have been dragged into concessions. Home Office sources insist no final decision on changes to immigration rules has been taken. Mahmood told the conference: “We will come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally, and fairness to British citizens across this country.”

The care sector stakes

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to create a new National Care Service but has been warned this cannot be achieved without overseas staff. Care worker Chukwuemeka Aluu said the original proposals were a betrayal of thousands keeping the care sector afloat. He told The Mirror: “Our people are dying in silence. Some of them cannot even voice their concerns for fear of being victimised at the place of work.”

Final Thoughts

Mahmood faces a choice between appeasing her own MPs and unions or maintaining stricter settlement rules. With care workers protesting and the government needing overseas staff for its new National Care Service, a significant watering down of the original proposals appears likely within days.

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