UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood plans major immigration reforms, linking settlement to contribution and restricting benefits for non-citizens.
As reported by The Independent, the British government plans to limit benefits and social housing to UK citizens, with migrants in the country illegally facing a 30-year wait for long-term residency.
What did Shabana Mahmood say about legal migration and settlement reforms?
Shabana Mahmood told the Commons that settlement in the UK is a “privilege, not a right” as she unveiled a shake-up to legal migration following new asylum system reforms.
The home secretary told MPs that those who view migration as part of modern Britain’s story, saying,
“We must prove that it can still work.”
She told the Commons that current forecasts expect 1.6 million people to settle in Britain between 2026 and 2030, with a peak of 450,000 in 2028.
Ms Mahmood stressed that, despite the crackdown, she “sees the benefits of migration.”
She told MPs,
“I wouldn’t be here if this country hadn’t welcomed my parents. It is literally the story of my life… so I very much feel those benefits personally and I will always speak up for them as I have done today.”
Ms Mahmood acknowledged that migration “will always be a vital part of Britain’s story” but warned that the volume of arrivals in recent years has been “unprecedented.”
She said,
“To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege. And it must be earned. I am replacing a broken immigration system with one that prioritises contribution, integration and respect for the British sense of fair play.”
The home secretary confirmed that reforms to indefinite leave to remain will not affect those with settled status, marking a departure from Reform UK’s plan for retrospective removal.
Ms Mahmood stated,
“The Reform party – I note, not present today [ie, not in the chamber] – have said they will do this most un-British of things. The Tories have said that they will, and said that they won’t. And I am left in as much of a muddle about their policies. But I can be clear that this side of the house we won’t change the rules for those settled status.”
She added,
“May I make one thing absolutely clear though: we will not change the rules for those with settled status today. These are people who have been in our country for years, even decades. They have families here, wives, husbands, children.”
Ms Mahmood said,
“They have worked in our hospitals, taught in our schools and have been contributing to our society for years. Fairness is the most fundamental of British values. We made a promise when we gave them settlement and we do not break our promises.”
The home secretary stated,
“For those who believe that migration is part of modern Britain’s story, and should always continue to be, we must prove that it can still work.”
She continued,
“That those who come here contribute, play their part and enrich our national life. While each will always retain something of who they were and where they came from, they become a part of the greatest multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy in the world.”
What did Chris Philp say about Shabana Mahmood copying Tory migration policies?
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused Shabana Mahmood of adopting policies previously proposed by the Conservative Party.
He told MPs,
“The idea of a 10-year route to [indefinite leave to remain] is something that we proposed in amendments to the government’s bill, I think, around about nine months ago. The Labour party inexplicably voted against those measures and now they’ve adopted them.”
Mr Philp added,
“I am delighted to see the home secretary has got out the copy-and-paste function on her laptop and started copying and pasting Conservative policies.”
In response to his remarks, Ms Mahmood said the Conservatives should apologise for “messing up the system so badly”, adding they “barely have the right to ask questions, let alone propose solutions”.
How did Shabana Mahmood plan to shake up UK migration and settlement rules?
Under the shake-up, applicants for the contribution-based model will face mandatory requirements as the UK moves to a new immigration system.
The reforms include a clean criminal record, three years of National Insurance contributions, A-level English proficiency, and no debt to the government.
According to the new rules, the government will extend the default Indefinite Leave to Remain period from five to ten years, with applicants rewarded or penalized based on their contributions.
The government will cut the ILR qualifying period to nine years for degree-level English speakers and five years for higher-rate taxpayers, with top-rate taxpayers and global talent visa holders eligible in just three years.
Applicants working in key public service roles, including doctors and teachers, will qualify in five years, while volunteers will see their qualifying period reduced by three to five years.
People who claimed benefits for under 12 months will face a five-year penalty, while those claiming for more than 12 months will face a ten-year penalty.
Migrants who arrived in Britain illegally could be penalized for up to 20 years, delaying their eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
The government has set a 15-year default ILR period for the ‘Boris-wave’ cohort, extending to 25 years for applicants who claimed benefits for more than 12 months.
The term “Boris-wave” refers to the increase in migration to the UK from non EU countries after Brexit, under Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
How many illegal migrants are in the UK?
According to figures, there were approximately 49,000 detected irregular arrivals, a 27% increase from the previous year in the year ending June 2025. About 88% of these arrivals came by small boats.
Nearly 111,000 people claimed asylum in the UK in 2025, which is 14% higher than the previous year and nearly double the number since 2021.
