Angela Rayner Criticizes Labour Government's Proposed Visa Rule Changes for Care Workers
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has publicly criticized the Labour government's proposal to extend the time for migrant care workers already in the UK to obtain permanent residency from 5 to 15 years, calling it "un-British" and retrospective. The government is consulting on immigration rule changes that would also extend settlement timelines for other migrant workers, with a final decision still pending. Rayner's criticism highlights internal Labour divisions over immigration policy and raises questions about fairness to workers who have contributed during the pandemic.
Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister, has publicly opposed proposed changes to visa settlement rules for migrant care workers already residing in the UK. Speaking at a Unison rally, she argued that extending the settlement period from the current five years to 15 years would constitute unfair retrospective action against workers who have followed rules and contributed to society. The government's consultation proposes doubling settlement timelines for most migrants from five to 10 years, with care workers facing a 15-year wait and those relying on benefits for over 12 months facing a 20-year wait. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has defended the proposals as necessary given the "unprecedented" number of arrivals, but dozens of Labour MPs have opposed the approach. Rayner distinguished between controlling borders and changing rules for legal migrants already established in the UK, and called for higher care worker wages and an end to employer-tied visas instead.
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Changing visa rules for care workers is wrong, says Rayner
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