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Politics

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Politics

How will UK immigration rules change under Shabana Mahmood’s latest plans?

Home secretary has softened on some proposals but is still hardening rules for those wishing to settle permanently Shabana Mahmood has watered down some of last year’s immigration plans after a backlash from enraged backbench Labour MPs and some of her cabinet colleagues. But the package of proposals outlined on Thursday is still a radical hardening of the rules for those wishing to settle permanently in the UK. People on lower incomes will have to wait longer before achieving indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK, while people on higher salaries will find it easier. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Politics

Half-witted at best, a people-pleaser at worst: step forward, Chris Philp | John Crace

Responding to Shabana Mahmood’s changes to indefinite leave to remain, the shadow home secretary was detached from reality Better late than never. It had seemed as if some apologies from the prime minister were more sincere than others. The one that he has planned to deliver for Britain’s role in the slave trade at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua fell on the right side of genuine. There had been no need to make one at that time. Indeed Kemi Badenoch saw it as a sign of weakness. There again, she would refuse to apologise for running someone over on a pedestrian crossing

The Guardian
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Politics

Shabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash

Exception for care workers will allow an estimated 280,000 people and their dependants to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years Shabana Mahmood rowed back on her most hardline plans to make care workers wait 15 years for settlement in the UK, but told MPs on Monday that many migrants would still face retrospective rule changes to make them wait a decade. Under pressure from a cabinet backlash and health unions, the home secretary has offered a carve-out for care workers to allow them to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years. Continue reading...

The Guardian
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Politics

The Guardian view on a migration U-turn: it still leaves unfair changes intact | Editorial

Britain needs migrant workers, yet ministers would make many wait longer for secure settlement because their essential work commands low wages Shabana Mahmood has made a partial retreat on her policy to lengthen the wait for some foreign workers who were soon to be eligible for settlement in the UK. But while the home secretary lost the argument in cabinet on a particularly damaging aspect of her proposals, she has won the larger battle that settlement ought to be based not just on residency but also on how much tax has been paid, English language proficiency and the “character” of applicants.

The Guardian
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Politics

Charities condemn proposal to make some refugees wait up to 30 years for settlement – as it happened

Executive director of external affairs at the Refugee Council called the proposals ‘unfair and unworkable’ Downing Street has declined to say how much it cost for the plane carrying Andy Burnham and UK delegates to a Commonwealth leaders’ summit to stop in Manchester to pick him up (see 10.28am), the Press Association reports. At the morning lobby briefing, asked if this was an appropriate use of public money, the PM’s spokesperson said: The prime minister’s travel arrangements are made on the basis of security, operational requirements, and value for money for the taxpayer. The prime minister

The Guardian
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