Top News

Sir Keir Starmer is facing fresh pressure over immigration reforms as ministers are working behind the scenes with rebel Labour MPs to water down the plans. Figures within the Government are reportedly trying to help backbenchers secure more concessions to the overhaul, which is being spearheaded by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Under the plans, which have sparked a backlash from some Labour MPs, the amount of time migrants have to be in the UK before they can claim the right to stay permanently would be extended and the changes could apply to people already living in Britain. The Government is currently consulting on proposals to double the time it will take to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to 10 years.

One Labour MP told The Guardian that stopping the changes applying retrospectively could quell backbench anger.

Another insisted MPs were being treated with a degree of "contempt" as they were not being given a chance to vote on the plans.

And a third said some rebels had been phoned and "shouted at" after signing a letter condemning the proposals.

Labour critics are said to be preparing to invoke a little-used parliamentary procedure to force a symbolic vote on the measures in the coming months.

It comes after former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner branded the plans "un-British" in a major intervention last month.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also appeared to hint that Labour could row back on the proposals.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "The Government's position has not changed. We will always welcome those that come to this country and contribute to our national life. But the privilege of living here forever should be earned, not automatic.

"Between 2021 and 2024, this country experienced levels of migration it had historically seen over four decades. We must be honest about the scale and impact of hundreds of thousands of low-skilled migrants getting settlement.

"The Government will double the route to settlement from five to 10 years. As announced in November, we are consulting to apply this change to those in the UK today but have not received settled status. We are currently reviewing the 200,000 responses and will outline our response in due course."