'Difficult to say' if immigration is too high, claims Andy Burnham

WorldPolitics
2 Nov 2026 • 4:33 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

'Difficult to say' if immigration is too high, claims Andy Burnham

  • Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce major UK immigration reforms regarding settlement eligibility, amid reports that proposed extensions to the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) waiting period could be scaled back due to Cabinet divisions.
  • Andy Burnham declined to state whether legal migration levels were too high, arguing that immigration should flexibly address specific economic shortages rather than adhere to rigid numerical targets.
  • Internal Labour opposition, including public criticism from Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, has mounted over controversial proposals that initially sought to lengthen settlement waiting periods for foreign care workers from five to up to 15 years.
  • Research published by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) revealed that skilled migrants settling under current five-year rules are projected to make a net lifetime contribution of £115 billion to UK public finances.
  • Opposition figures heavily criticised the government ahead of the announcement, with shadow home secretary Chris Philp accusing Ms Mahmood of surrendering policy control to the Labour left and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage demanding ILR be scrapped entirely.

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