Mahmood signals rethink on migrants' right to remain

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated she is willing to reconsider plans to make it harder for foreign workers to obtain permanent residence in the UK. She acknowledged that some consider these reforms unfair and aims to balance fairness for legal migrants and British citizens. Mahmood proposed doubling the qualifying period from five to ten years, with longer waits for certain visas, such as 15 years for health and social care visas and 20 years for those relying on benefits for over 12 months. Critics like Angela Rayner and Andrea Egan have called the proposals unfair, while Home Office sources state no final decision has been made.