Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh refuses to endorse plans extending to 15 years the wait for foreign workers to gain permanent residency in the UK, deepening a cabinet split over the policy.
01Summary
- 01Miatta Fahnbulleh told Sky News immigration reforms should be based on compassion, but avoided backing the 15-year residency wait proposed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
- 02Fahnbulleh earlier posted criticism on her constituency website, saying prolonged settlement waits could hinder community cohesion; the post was later removed.
- 03Housing Secretary Angela Rayner previously criticised the plans, and dozens of Labour MPs oppose changes backdated to 2021.
- 04Andy Burnham has suggested exempting care workers from the extension, but the Home Office warns it could cause an exodus from the sector.
- 05A government source said Fahnbulleh supported the policy process but final measures are not set.
02Why it matters
This matters because the cabinet rift signals potential delays or watering down of immigration reforms that would affect tens of thousands of foreign workers in the UK, including those in critical sectors like care.
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