Keir Starmer has indicated a willingness to consider changes to proposed migration reforms, following criticism from senior Labour figures. Downing Street declined to confirm whether plans to extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain would proceed as outlined, suggesting instead that responses to a Home Office consultation are under review.
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The proposals, led by Shabana Mahmood, would require most migrants to wait ten years rather than five before applying for permanent settlement. The changes could affect approximately 1.6 million people who arrived in the UK after 2021. Ministers argue the reforms are necessary to manage public spending and maintain confidence in the immigration system.
Opposition within the Labour Party has emerged, notably from Angela Rayner, who described the plans as “un-British” and raised concerns about retrospective implementation. She warned that altering conditions for those already in the system could create uncertainty for families who had settled under existing rules. Similar concerns have been echoed by other Labour MPs and regional leaders.
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Government sources maintain that no final decision has been taken, though the possibility of transitional arrangements has been suggested. The debate comes amid wider political pressure, with migration expected to be a key issue in upcoming local elections and ongoing discussions about Labour’s policy direction and leadership stability.
