British Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham is expected to back a proposal from the Home Office to tighten immigration procedures despite opposition from his own party, though he may tweak aspects to make it more palatable.
Burnham, who is expected to become the leader of the Labour Party and therefore the nation’s prime minister next week, signaled his approval for the plan prepared by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. The plan has been opposed by approximately 80 Labour MPs who say the reforms are unfair and too demanding for those seeking to settle in the United Kingdom.
“Andy believes the public deserve an asylum system that is both compassionate and credible,” a spokesperson for Burnham said. “This bill takes important steps towards restoring confidence by tackling illegal crossings while strengthening safe and legal routes for genuine refugees.”
They added: “This is about ensuring the system is fair both to those seeking protection and to the communities that welcome them.”
The reforms would make it more difficult for foreign nationals with histories of crime or those rejected for asylum to stall their removal with appeals to human rights law. Additionally, a fast track for deportations will be established, and migrants will be forced to pay for the cost of their accommodation.
Labour lawmakers in parliament have been particularly outraged with Mahmood’s proposal to increase the time required to attain indefinite leave to remain, or ILR, the right to stay within the country in perpetuity without citizenship.
Individuals with ILR are also eligible for social welfare programs like disability payments, tax credits, and universal credit.
Mahmood’s reform would double the length of time required for ILR from five years to 10 years. That extension would apply retroactively, meaning those on the cusp of qualifying will be forced to wait an additional five years.
The dozens of Labour lawmakers opposed to the changes signed a letter last week warning Burnham that the policy was “anathema to who we are, what we stand for and how we should do politics.”
Burnham has said that he agrees with the “broad thrust” of the plan, but that the government will need to “get the balance right.” Reports have emerged alleging that the incoming prime minister is open to watering down the ILR portions of Mahmood’s reforms, allowing migrants to gain the status on the original timeline, with benefits withheld for several years after.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary for Britain’s Conservative Party, characterized the immigration reform slate as the first political trial of Burnham and his government.
“It’ll be an early test of Andy Burnham and Shabana Mahmood as to whether they’ve got the strength to stand by their own proposals, which they made a few months ago,” Philip said. “And by the way, if they table those proposals unamended, undiluted, you know, we would support them.”
“But it looks like Andy Burnham is planning to capitulate, to give in to those left-wing Labour MPs and dilute the plans so that people can get the permanent right to stay after just five years, which of course carries things like rights to benefits as well,” Philip added.
Burnham is expected to take the prime ministerial office on July 20, completing a swift coup that ultimately placed him in the top job unopposed within his own party.