Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has informed the Labour government that changing visa rules for migrants already living in the UK would be "the wrong thing to do," in what experts are calling "a mildly awkward family dinner at the Labour Christmas party."
Speaking to the BBC, Rayner argued it would be "un-British" to make care staff already in the UK wait up to 15 years - rather than the current five - before being allowed to settle permanently. She clarified that controlling borders is "completely different" from taking "retrospective action on people who have made a life here," which is a distinction the Home Office appears to be struggling with.
The UK government has consulted on immigration rule changes, but a decision on the permanent residency of migrant workers already living in the UK remains pending - presumably in a locked drawer somewhere in Whitehall.
Addressing a rally organized by the public service union Unison on Wednesday, Rayner insisted there should be no retrospective rule changes to settlement for care workers "who follow the rules and contribute to our society." She added, "Care workers helped us through the darkest days of the pandemic," and noted that "care is a system we may all need, and rely upon." She vowed not to rest until all who give and receive care do so "with the dignity and respect they deserve."
Rayner first expressed concerns about applying retrospective immigration changes back in March. At the time, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham - who is Labour's candidate in the Makerfield by-election - said he understood where Rayner was "coming from" and that the party "would do well to listen to what Angela has to say." However, at the start of the Makerfield by-election campaign, Burnham said he agreed with the "broad thrust" of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's approach. Consistency: not always a political priority.
Settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain, grants a person the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely, plus apply for benefits if eligible. Ministers want to double the time most migrants must wait for permanent residence from five to 10 years. Under the proposals, people who arrived on health and social care visas would face a 15-year wait, while those who relied on benefits for more than 12 months would have to wait 20 years. Mahmood has defended the plans, arguing the "unprecedented" number of arrivals demands an answer - though she didn't say what the question was.
Dozens of Labour MPs have opposed the plans, branding the retrospective approach "un-British" and "moving the goalposts." Rayner, speaking to the BBC, declined to comment on a hypothetical Labour leadership contest but had a clear message for whoever is in charge: "We shouldn't rip up the rules halfway through - taking retrospective action on people who are taxpayers, who are making a contribution, who are part of our society looking after our most vulnerable."
She added that she supports controlling the UK's borders but that this is different from the issue of settlement rights for legal migrants. Rayner also called on her own government to raise care workers' wages and stop tying visas for care workers to specific employers, which she said encourages exploitation. The former housing secretary has not declared she would stand in any Labour leadership contest, but she is now using her freedom to push publicly for policy changes - subtly hinting that perhaps the current leadership could use a bit of fresh thinking.