UK Prime Minister Says He Agrees With Principle of Migration Reform

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Oct. 26 that he agreed with the principles of immigration reforms set out by British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, after speculation that the policies could be weakened.Asked whether he agreed with Mahmood’s policy of extending the time it takes some migrants to secure indefinite leave to remain to 15 years from five years, the prime minister told ITV’s “Good Morning Britain” that he stood by the principle his minister had suggested.“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,” Burnham said, adding that Mahmood will “set out the final conclusion soon.”He said the issue arose from the large number of people who came to the country in the early 2020s under then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, an influx known in the UK as the “Boriswave.”After Johnson relaxed the UK’s visa rules, millions of migrants came to the UK between 2021 and 2024, peaking at 944,000 in the year ending in March 2023, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics and analysis by London-based think tank the Centre for Policy Studies.Mahmood first put forward her suggested reforms in November 2025, while she was home secretary under Burnham’s predecessor, Keir Starmer.A paper outlining them said the issue could be addressed by “increasing the pathway to settlement for groups less likely to make a net fiscal contribution over the long term,” citing workers in “lower wage occupations” as an example.The paper suggested extending the baseline period migrants must spend in the country before being granted indefinite leave to remain to 15 years.Being granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK means that someone who is not a British citizen can stay in the UK without a time limit and may live, work, study, and, if eligible, claim benefits for as long as he likes.Under current rules, some people can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years if they are in the UK on a work or family visa, or after 10 years if they pursue it through the “long residence” route.Mahmood most recently referenced her reforms during her speech to the Labour Party conference in September, saying that she wanted to ensure that “settled status is earned by those who have shown a consistent commitment” to the UK.“I know that, throughout our consultation process, some have said elements of these reforms are not fair. And to that, let me say this: We will come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally and fairness to British citizens across this country,” she said.One high-profile opponent of Mahmood’s proposed immigration reforms has been London Mayor Sadiq Khan.“I’ve responded to the consultation in relation to the opportunities, but also the concerns I have. I’m somebody who’s not in favor of changing rules retrospectively, but also I’m somebody who recognizes we need to control our borders,” Khan told the BBC on Oct. 26.“We need to make sure those who come here contribute. But also in our immigration policy, we need compassion as well. And I’m confident once Shabana Mahmood has taken on board the responses to the consultation, she’ll announce a policy that we can all get behind.”No date has been set yet for the Home Office to announce the findings of its consultation on immigration reforms.