Angela Rayner signals Shabana Mahmood will weaken Labour's immigration crackdown after she led revolt against 'un-British' reforms

Published: 11:47 GMT, 25 October 2026 | Updated: 00:44 GMT, 26 October 2026

Angela Rayner today signalled that Shabana Mahmood will weaken Labour's proposed immigration crackdown after she led a revolt against 'un-British' reforms.

Ms Mahmood, the Home Secretary, has fronted plans to make migrant workers wait longer before they can settle in Britain permanently.

There had been proposals to make migrants wait up to 15 years before claiming indefinite leave to remain (ILR), up from five currently.

But there is now an expectation that the Government's reforms will be watered down in order to avoid a Labour rebellion.

Ms Rayner, the Housing Secretary, had been among senior MPs to speak out against the plans as she expressed concerns about the impact on foreign care workers.

She previously warned that making it harder for migrants already in the UK to settle permanently is 'un-British' and a 'breach of trust'.

Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Ms Rayner suggested she had been successful in her opposition to the plans from within the Cabinet.

She said Ms Mahmood would soon present a system that is 'fair' to both taxpayers and those migrants 'who work in our public services'.

Angela Rayner today signalled that Shabana Mahmood will weaken Labour's proposed immigration crackdown after she led a revolt against 'un-British reforms'

Ms Mahmood, the Home Secretary, has fronted plans to make migrant workers wait longer before they can settle in Britain permanently

Ms Rayner praised the Home Secretary for an 'incredible job' on reducing both illegal and legal immigration.

Following the closure of a Government consultation on the ILR proposals earlier this year, the Housing Secretary added of Ms Mahmood: 'She had a consultation about what is the best route for people who come here and people who are already here.

'And she's looking at that information. I've every confidence that Shabana will come up with a fair system that is fair to the taxpayers of today, that are fair and recognise the contribution that people make who come to this country, who work in our public services.

'And she'll be able to take us forward with our British values that are fair to all.'

Ms Rayner added she would be 'fully supporting Shabana in the task that she set herself, because that's what British people want to see - a fair process'.

'She started a consultation and we've had that consultation,' Ms Rayner continued, when pressed about her previous criticism of Ms Mahmood's proposed reforms.

'There's been over 200 contributions to that. And Shabana will be coming forward with the plans and they will be fair to the British taxpayers, fair to the people that come to this country that contribute, and will give confidence in the British people that our system works for them.

'And I've got every confidence in Shabana being able to do that.'

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he strongly supports the principle that ILR is a 'right to be earned' but stopped short of committing to bringing in all of Ms Mahmood's reforms.

Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp has previously claimed that Ms Rayner is 'now dictating Britain's migration policy' following Ms Mahmood's 'surrender' to Labour's Left.