Migrants will have to prove they are contributing to society in order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced. Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Mahmood set out new conditions that legal migrants will need to meet before being granted permanent settlement. These include demonstrating a high standard of English, maintaining a clean criminal record, and volunteering in their local community.
The Labour government says the changes are designed to underline its commitment to secure borders while also ensuring that migration is linked to positive contributions to the country. The policy also draws a distinction with Reform UK, which has called for the abolition of indefinite leave to remain. Mahmood told delegates that the UK’s reputation as an “open, tolerant, generous place” was at risk of being overshadowed by divisions.
She warned that patriotism was being reduced to “something smaller, something more like ethno-nationalism.” She argued that Labour must respond to public concerns that the system is not working for everyone. “If we do not rise to this challenge, our vision of an open, tolerant, generous country will wither,” Mahmood said. She warned that without change, working-class communities could turn away from Labour “and seek solace in the false promises” of Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage.
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Mahmood framed the debate as not just about winning the next election but also about keeping the country united. She said Labour must fight for “our belief in a greater Britain, not a littler England.” The speech also addressed immigration and border control more broadly. Mahmood pledged to “do whatever it takes to secure our borders,” responding to concerns about the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats and the wider scale of immigration.
Confirming the government’s intention to reform indefinite leave to remain, she said the new approach would “ensure contribution to this country is a condition of living here.” The home secretary also drew on her personal experiences. She spoke about her parents’ arrival in Britain and said that the acceptance of migrants in local communities has always depended on visible contribution. She recalled working as a child in her family’s corner shop, where she once experienced shoplifting.
“I know there’s nothing ‘low-level’ about shoplifting,” she said. “I know what it feels like to keep a cricket bat behind the counter, just in case.” That experience, she said, has influenced her commitment to cracking down on theft. Mahmood announced a “winter of action” scheme that will see police forces working with local businesses across the country to tackle shoplifting.
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