Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms are set to be brought before Parliament next week – just before MPs leave for a recess – to thwart the threat of a major backbench rebellion.
A bitter Cabinet rift has emerged over the Home Secretary’s plans to toughen rules for more than a million migrants.
Dozens of Labour MPs have indicated they could vote against the legislation. The row centres on Ms Mahmood’s plans to lengthen the time migrants would have to wait to gain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK from five years to up to 15 – and to apply this retrospectively.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh publicly attacked the Home Office’s proposals earlier this month after Communities Secretary Angela Rayner described them as ‘un-British’ and ‘wrong’.
And 80 MPs wrote to the Prime Minister in July urging him to water down the Immigration and Asylum Bill, warning the party risked losing ‘progressive’ voters.
A Government consultation on the ILR proposals closed earlier this year.
Shabana Mahmood’s (pictured) immigration reforms are set to be brought before Parliament next week
It is understood Ms Mahmood’s revised reforms will be brought before Parliament next week. Such a move could stop any backbench rebellion gaining momentum after MPs head off to their constituencies when Parliament rises for recess on Wednesday.
Andy Burnham is said to be considering easing the rules around the ILR timeframe in order to avoid a Labour civil war.
The Prime Minister will be keen to avoid a repeat of the rebellion that took hold when Sir Keir Starmer attempted to cut disability benefits in 2025, which saw the then PM make a U-turn.
Last week Mr Burnham refused to give the tougher elements of the immigration reforms his backing.
The Prime Minister added that he backed the ‘principle’ that ‘settlement is a right to be earned through contribution’.
One option said to be under consideration is exempting some migrants – in particular health and care workers – from some of the proposals, including lengthier waits for ILR.
