Mahmood refuses to detail cost of revised settlement plans

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood declined to estimate the cost of revised plans for foreign workers seeking permanent settlement, saying details would be published in a future impact assessment. Her original proposal would have increased the qualifying wait from five to 10 years for most migrants and to 15 years for some, with the Home Office estimating potential savings of £10bn. Under changes announced on Monday after Labour MPs objected, care workers who arrived before May 2025 and earn at least £25,000 a year can still qualify after five years, while some others may receive a five-year extension. Mahmood says the revised rules will still save the state billions, partly by reducing benefit claims.