Keir Starmer appears to have moved to avoid a potential new flashpoint with volatile Labour backbenchers on immigration after hardline plans to make it harder to stay in Britain legally were left out of the King’s Speech.
Shabana Mahmood unveiled plans in March to double the time it will take immigrants to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), from five to 10 years.
The Home Secretary also wants the change to apply retrospectively to migrants already in Britain, potentially affecting around 2.2 million people who have arrived since 2021 – though this proposal remains under review.
The retrospective element of the reforms
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