More than 200,000 migrants have been granted indefinite leave to remain in Britain since ministers proposed tightening the rules, as Labour remains divided over whether to extend the qualifying period.
The status allows people who have lived in the UK for five years after arriving legally on visas to stay permanently, apply for benefits and access NHS care and social housing. Those granted settlement can also apply for British citizenship after a further year.
Official figures show that 199,628 people were granted settlement in the 12 months to June. At the same rate, a further 5,675 people would be gaining indefinite leave to remain every week.
The numbers are expected to rise in the coming months as people who arrived during the post-pandemic surge become eligible to settle.
Labour divisions over indefinite leave to remain
The Government proposed an “earned settlement” system last May, when Yvette Cooper was Home Secretary, which would double the qualifying period from five years to ten.
In November, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she wanted the stricter rules to apply retrospectively. She warned that without reform, 1.6 million people would be entitled to settle between 2026 and 2030.
Ms Mahmood has said the lifetime cost to taxpayers of that group, which she said included many low-skilled workers and their dependants, would be £10 billion.
The proposals have faced opposition from Labour MPs and trade unions. Angela Rayner previously described the retrospective element as “un-British” and a “breach of trust”, and stood by those criticisms last month despite returning to collective Cabinet responsibility.
Unison has called for care workers to be exempt from the proposed rules. Its general secretary, Andrea Egan, said: “Shabana Mahmood’s proposals have fuelled the far-Right.”
Ms Mahmood has since indicated that the Government may soften the plans, saying: “We will come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally and fairness to British citizens.”
The consultation received 200,000 responses and closed in February, but the Home Office has yet to publish its response. Immigration rules updated last week made no mention of indefinite leave to remain.
The department said: “We are considering responses to our consultation on elements of these reforms.”
Chris Philp, the shadow Home Secretary, accused ministers of delaying action. He said: “Every single day, hundreds of mainly low-wage or no-wage immigrants get the right to stay here permanently and claim benefits.”
He added: “Yet Shabana Mahmood continues to refuse to implement her own indefinite leave to remain changes to stop this – which she herself admits are needed to save £10billion.”
Reform UK home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said the delay meant “thousands more will get indefinite leave to remain and unfettered access to our welfare system”.
MigrationWatch UK estimates that 225,000 people qualified for indefinite leave to remain during the past 11 months. Its chairman, Alp Mehmet, questioned whether Andy Burnham would support extending the qualifying period.
