Sadiq Khan Sends Strong Message to Labour Government Over New Immigration Rules That Could Affect Millions of Migrants Already Living in the UK

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has spoken out against Labour’s plans to make millions of migrants wait longer before they can settle permanently in the UK.

Khan believes that people who came to Britain under the existing immigration rules should not suddenly face new rules that could force them to wait several more years before getting permanent residency.

His comments come as the Labour government considers major changes to the immigration system, including increasing the time migrants must live in the UK before applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Under the current system, many migrants can apply for permanent settlement after living and working in Britain for five years. However, the government wants to increase this waiting period to at least 10 years.

The proposed changes could affect millions of foreign nationals, including people who arrived in the UK between 2021 and 2024.

Speaking about the issue, Khan made it clear that although he supports stronger border controls, he does not believe it is right to change the rules for people who are already living in the country.

He said: “I’m somebody who is not in favour of changing rules retrospectively.”

This means Khan does not want new immigration rules to be applied to people who entered Britain when different rules were in place.

He also explained that Britain must have an immigration system that controls who enters the country while treating migrants fairly.

Khan said: “I’m somebody who recognises we need to control our borders, make sure those who come here contribute, but also we need an immigration policy which is compassionate.”

The London Mayor also defended Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s decision to hold discussions about the proposed changes.

He believes the government should listen carefully to the concerns raised by migrants, workers, employers and other groups before making a final decision.

Khan said he had already responded to the government’s consultation, explaining both the possible benefits and the problems he sees with the proposals.

He expressed hope that Mahmood would consider the responses before announcing the final policy.

However, the Home Secretary has argued that the current settlement system could create serious financial problems for Britain.

According to Mahmood, allowing large numbers of low-paid or unemployed migrants to receive permanent settlement could cost the government around £10 billion.

She believes migrants should have to demonstrate that they have contributed to Britain before receiving the right to settle permanently.

The government is also considering tougher rules for people working in the care sector.

Under the proposals, some care workers could be required to live in Britain for 15 years before becoming eligible for indefinite leave to remain.

Immigration officials have raised concerns about the misuse of the health and social care visa system, which allowed many overseas workers to enter Britain.

Another proposal could stop migrants with permanent settlement from claiming certain benefits unless they become British citizens.

These possible changes have caused serious disagreements within the Labour Party.

More than 100 Labour MPs, along with trade unions and organisations representing health workers, are reported to have raised concerns about the plans.

Some believe it would be unfair to change the conditions for migrants who moved to Britain expecting to qualify for settlement after five years.

The disagreement comes after a period of high immigration to Britain.

According to figures mentioned in the report, around 4.2 million migrants moved to the UK between 2021 and 2024.

This period has been described by some politicians as the “Boris wave”, referring to the large number of people who entered Britain during and after Boris Johnson’s time as Prime Minister.

The government believes the arrival of so many people on longer-term visas has created a challenge over how permanent settlement should be managed.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has supported the Home Secretary’s position, arguing that permanent settlement should be something migrants earn rather than receive automatically.

He said the government must find a way to deal with the long-term effects of immigration while ensuring that people who want to remain in Britain meet the necessary requirements.

Burnham said: “And the Home Secretary is right, in my view, to bring forward changes that are based on the principle that settlement is a right to be earned, not just something that is granted automatically.”

Meanwhile, more than 200,000 people have reportedly received indefinite leave to remain since Labour announced its intention to tighten settlement rules last year.

For migrants already living and working in Britain, the disagreement has raised questions about what will happen to their future.

Many people entered the UK believing they could apply for permanent settlement after five years, provided they met the immigration requirements.

If the proposed changes are applied to existing visa holders, some could find themselves waiting an additional five years or even longer.

However, Khan’s intervention has given fresh attention to the argument that people who entered Britain under the old system should be allowed to continue under those rules.

The government has not yet announced its final decision on how the proposed settlement changes would apply to people already in the UK.