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Labour's Rayner Criticizes Visa Rule Proposals
Confirmed
In Short: Housing Secretary Angela Rayner criticized Labour's proposals to alter visa rules, expressing concerns that the changes would make it harder for foreign workers to secure permanent residency in the UK, speaking to the Times ahead of Labour's annual conference.
Rayner said the proposed changes, which would extend the wait for most migrants to 10 years from the current five, and 15 years for health and social care workers, are unfair because they 'change the goalposts' for those who arrived in the UK expecting to secure permanent residence under the current rules.
She warned that the changes would be 'very disruptive' and would impact foreign care workers who 'moved their lives here to look after our loved ones'. Rayner previously served as deputy prime minister under Sir Keir Starmer and was brought back into the cabinet by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in July.
It is significant that a serving cabinet minister feels able to criticize an existing government proposal on the eve of Labour's conference, especially one inherited from the Starmer era.
Rayner said she had not changed her view since re-entering the cabinet, maintaining that proposals to retrospectively alter the rules for migrants already working in the UK would be 'wrong'.
Unions and Labour MPs have urged ministers to soften the planned changes, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood facing growing pressure to reconsider her hardline stance.
Mahmood's proposals have faced a backlash, with Labour figures warning that the plans could be the source of a row at the party conference.
Burnham faces unrest among Labour's big beasts as he heads into his first party conference as Prime Minister, with some questioning his economic policies.
Labour is ensuring that every young person is prepared for the world of work by expanding vocational GCSEs and creating 200,000 more opportunities for work experience.
What this adds
Rayner's criticism highlights the internal divisions within Labour over immigration policy.
The pressure on Mahmood to soften her stance could lead to significant changes in the proposed visa rules.
What's confirmed
- Rayner said the proposed changes, which would extend the wait for most migrants to 10 years from the current five, and 15 years for health and social care workers, are unfair because they 'change the goalposts' for those who arrived in the UK expecting to secure permanent residence under the current rules.
- She warned that the changes would be 'very disruptive' and would impact foreign care workers who 'moved their lives here to look after our loved ones'. Rayner previously served as deputy prime minister under Sir Keir Starmer and was brought back into the cabinet by Prime Minister Andy Burnham in July.
- It is significant that a serving cabinet minister feels able to criticize an existing government proposal on the eve of Labour's conference, especially one inherited from the Starmer era.
- Rayner said she had not changed her view since re-entering the cabinet, maintaining that proposals to retrospectively alter the rules for migrants already working in the UK would be 'wrong'.
- Unions and Labour MPs have urged ministers to soften the planned changes, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood facing growing pressure to reconsider her hardline stance.
- Mahmood's proposals have faced a backlash, with Labour figures warning that the plans could be the source of a row at the party conference.
- Burnham faces unrest among Labour's big beasts as he heads into his first party conference as Prime Minister, with some questioning his economic policies.
- Labour is ensuring that every young person is prepared for the world of work by expanding vocational GCSEs and creating 200,000 more opportunities for work experience.
What's still developing
- Angela Rayner also broke ranks to criticise Mahmood’s reforms on the eve of Labour conference in Liverpool, warning they would unfairly “move the goalposts” for foreign workers already in the UK.
- Ahead of the conference, Mr Burnham used used a marathon broadcast round to “knock dead” a rumour he is considering an early general election.
- Ahead of the gathering in Merseyside, Peter Kyle – who served as Sir Keir Starmer’s business secretary – warned that Mr Burnham was not doing enough to boost economic growth.
- The Communities Secretary, who was a vocal opponent of the migration proposals when she sat on the Labour backbenches under Sir Keir, stood by her previous description of the package as “un-British”.