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Labour MPs pull their punches on immigration changes
BBC • • general
Key Points:
- Labour MPs, including Angela Rayner, initially opposed the Home Secretary's proposed settlement system changes, particularly concerning social care workers' eligibility and the retrospective application of the rules.
- Following a change in prime minister, the government softened the proposals for social care workers arriving before May 2025, allowing those earning at least £25,000 to qualify for settlement after five years, but retained the retrospective element, which remains controversial.
- Despite some criticism from Labour MPs like Rachael Maskell, John McDonnell, and Diane Abbott, most showed restrained opposition during the Home Secretary's Commons statement, with many acknowledging the partial concessions as a political compromise.
- The revised plans reduce the number of people facing delayed settlement from around 800,000 to approximately 500,000, with ongoing concerns about the impact on constituents and potential criticism from opposition parties regarding the policy's cost implications.
