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Angela Rayner has strongly criticized the government’s plan to make it more difficult for migrants currently residing in the UK to gain permanent settlement, calling the proposals both “un-British” and a betrayal of trust. The government intends to increase the qualifying period for permanent residence from five to ten years for most migrant workers, while refugees could face a waiting period as long as twenty years. Rayner’s remarks mark a significant stance since she stepped down as deputy prime minister last year, expressing concern that many migrants now “fear for their future” amid what she described as the government “moving the goalposts.”
In defense of the reforms, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood argued that these changes are “fair” and necessary to prevent excessive strain on public finances. Mahmood emphasized that settlement in the UK is a “privilege not a right” and suggested that the current five-year qualifying period is insufficiently stringent, claiming, “I think at five years that’s actually quite a short period before people can be permanently settled in the country with all of the benefits that that brings.” Accordingly, she supports extending the waiting period to address these concerns. However, some Labour MPs have opposed these proposals, reflecting ongoing debate within the party.
During a recent speech, Rayner also addressed the Labour Party’s broader challenges, including public perceptions that the party has aligned too closely with the establishment. She warned that “the very survival of the Labour Party is at stake,” insisting the party must not merely “go through the motions in the face of decline,” and stressed that “we’re running out of time.” This speech is viewed as part of pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to shift Labour’s platform toward the left following the party’s defeat to the Green Party in a recent by-election in Gorton and Denton. Seen by some within Labour as a possible future leader, Rayner spoke at an event hosted by the Mainstream group, a centre-left organization associated with Labour.
Regarding the settlement system itself, which grants the right to live, work, and study indefinitely in the UK, as well as access to benefits if eligible, the Home Office reported that net migration resulted in a population increase of 2.6 million people between 2021 and 2024. The department’s consultation anticipates that around 1.6 million individuals could acquire settlement status between 2026 and 2030. Rayner stressed that Labour must demonstrate it can “make the system work for working people” and guarantee a “fair deal,” but warned against “ripping up a deal halfway through” for migrants who contribute economically. Reflecting on her own experience after resigning over underpaid taxes, she noted the uncertainty faced by migrants currently in the system: “The people already in the system, who made a huge investment, now fear for their future—they do not have stability and do not know what will happen.” She concluded, “Because moving the goalposts undermines our sense of fair play. It’s un-British,” urging for migration rules that balance economic sustainability with upholding core British values
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