The Eye Of Media

By Ben Kerrigan-

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Sunday(yesterday) confirmed sweeping reforms to migration law, insisting that legal residents must prove societal contribution before securing the right to permanent settlement in the United Kingdom. Speaking ahead of the Labour Party conference, Ms Mahmood signalled the government’s firm intention to address public concern over “too high” migration levels.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Pic: PA

The recent policy change indicates that Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)—the status that permits legal migrants to settle without needing to renew their visas—will no longer depend solely on the number of years they have lived in the country.

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Ministers are currently exploring ways to connect ILR not only to a migrant’s employment, salary, and tax contributions but also to the broader impact they have on the community as a whole.

This shift aims to recognise and reward the diverse contributions migrants make beyond just economic measures. By considering factors such as community engagement, volunteer work, and cultural enrichment, the policy seeks to create a more comprehensive picture of a migrant’s value to society. This approach acknowledges that migrants often bring unique skills and perspectives that enhance the social fabric of their communities.

Furthermore, this change could lead to a more inclusive immigration policy that encourages individuals to participate in their local areas actively. By shifting the focus to community contributions, the government hopes to foster a sense of belonging and integration among migrants. This not only strengthens community ties but also benefits the nation as a whole by promoting social cohesion and mutual respect among diverse populations.

Ms Mahmood defended the idea of earned settlement, stating that people coming to the UK should not merely live and work here; they should also actively give back to their communities. She referenced her own parents’ experience, who migrated to Britain and contributed as volunteers and participants in local politics, as an example of desirable integration.

This new approach aims to foster deeper community integration among long-term residents and seeks to restore public confidence in the immigration system. Current government discussions suggest doubling the qualifying period for permanent settlement from five to ten years for most applicants. However, those who provide a greater societal contribution to the country could potentially qualify sooner.

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Defining “Wider Contributions” and Assessing the Policy’s Reasonableness

The central question now becomes how the Home Office will reasonably define and measure a person’s wider proven societal contribution. Initial details suggest these wider contributions could include volunteering for local charities or participating in community projects. Implementing a qualitative measure like this within a quantitative points-based system is challenging and risks creating an unwieldy bureaucratic process.

Critics worry that a mandatory volunteering requirement could amount to forced labour or unfairly disadvantage migrants working long, unsociable hours in essential roles, such as those in the NHS. The new policy appears aimed at fostering a stronger sense of belonging and discouraging a purely transactional view of immigration.

Experts stress the significant economic and social contributions that migrants already provide to the UK. Migrant workers fill vital labour shortages across numerous sectors, including healthcare, technology, and agriculture. In addition to addressing these shortages, migrants often bring diverse skill sets and fresh perspectives that can drive innovation and productivity.

Their presence helps to sustain local economies and can lead to job creation by stimulating demand for goods and services. Furthermore, migrant communities enrich the cultural fabric of the UK, fostering greater inclusivity and understanding among different groups. Migrants contribute billions annually in tax revenue and play a crucial role in the UK’s global soft power, enriching its cultural and academic life.

The government maintains that legal migration remains a positive force, but the rules must be robustly fair. Ms Mahmood warned that failure to gain control over immigration could further fuel the rise of the far-right, increasing social division across the nation.

Beyond the changes to how migrants prove societal contribution, the Home Secretary also promised several other aggressive reforms. The government plans to end the costly and inefficient use of hotels for housing asylum seekers, which Ms Mahmood condemned as a “total disaster.” She also pledged to cut visas for nations that refuse to accept the return of their citizens who are foreign offenders or illegal migrants.

Significantly, she promised reforms to human rights law before Christmas to prevent its use in blocking deportation flights, arguing that treaties like the European Convention on Human Rights have been utilised in ways that were never originally intended. This broad effort reflects a clear strategy to show the public that the government is taking firm, decisive action on all aspects of border control and immigration management. You can review the current official guidelines for UK settlement in the government’s most recent immigration white paper.

You can watch an overview of the new Home Secretary’s plans in the video below. This video provides context on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and her new policy statements regarding immigration.