By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2026-09-25 21:36:42 | Updated at 2026-09-25 23:16:39
1 hour ago
Angela Rayner has taken a swipe at Shabana Mahmood over Labour's migrant visa crackdown as the party's internal war reignites.
The Home Secretary's plans to overhaul the asylum system by making it harder for migrants to acquire British citizenship have been ill-received by more than 100 Labour MPs, threatening a mass revolt.
The Home Secretary unveiled plans to dramatically toughen the route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) last November, including doubling the standard qualifying period from five to 10 years for most migrants.
Criticism skyrocketed earlier this year when Ms Rayner warned Ms Mahmood's sweeping reforms were "un-British" and "unfair".
Ahead of Labour's annual Autumn Conference in Liverpool, the Housing Secretary complained the scheme would impact foreign care workers who had "moved their lives here to look after our loved ones".
The Ashton-under-Lyne MP also doubled down on her previous criticism of the "disruptive" plans, reiterating that Labour had "changed the goalposts".
"Especially in regards to the carers, who were asked to come to this country to care for some of our most vulnerable and then we changed the goalposts years down the line, I think that’s very disruptive," she told The Times.
"I do have concerns about that...when you ask someone to come here and look after your most vulnerable and they spend years dedicating themselves, moving their lives here to look after our loved ones."
The Housing Secretary doubled down on her past vicious criticism of her colleague's plans
PA
She refused to say whether she had raised the issue with her Cabinet colleague directly, simply saying: "I think Shabana knows."
"It was in the newspaper at the time," she added. "I’ve not changed my view on that. I just think when people relocate because we have skills shortages in this country, I think we have to be aware of that."
Earlier this week, Ms Mahmood vowed the Government would make a decision on the controversial policy "very soon" while the legislation remains in the consultation period.
She told Parliament's Home Affairs Select Committee: "I accept that there are a lot of people wondering what rules will apply to them.
Shabana Mahmood spoke before the Home Affairs Select Committee this week
PA
"It is right that the government has taken time to look at consultation responses properly.
"I can assure people we are trying to do a proper piece of work, where we have the right arrangements that strike the right balance between our responsibilities to people who have come here to work, our recognition of the failures we inherited as a Government and also our need to do right by the people who are already here and who pay for the systems that we all rely on."
Back in July, Ms Mahmood was accused of "chickening out" of the dramatic overhaul after it was revealed 1,100 people are being granted permanent settlement in Britain every working day.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Ms Mahmood had dodged implementing her planned reforms of the UK's migration system.
The Tory frontbencher added: "She talked a tough game on ILR reform but has delivered nothing."
The number of foreign care workers flocking to Britain rose in 2022 when the Tories set up a health and social care visa route, triggering the infamous "Boriswave".
Over the next two years, an influx of 185,000 migrant care workers were shipped into the UK.
At the time, the workers only had to wait five years until they were handed permanent citizenship.
Under Ms Mahmood, they will have to wait an extra 10 years, with the changes being imposed retrospectively.
MPs, trade unions and campaign groups have fumed over the plans ever since they were announced.
The issue is forecast to take centre stage at Labour Conference in Liverpool this weekend.
