Excuse Care Workers From Crackdown On Migrants, Say Voters

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 31, 2026

Nearly half of British voters support exempting migrants already living and working in the UK from proposed increases to the residency period required for indefinite leave to remain, amid debate over Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s immigration reforms. This public backing, especially for exempting lower-skilled health and care workers, is influencing government considerations as final immigration rules are set to be announced later this year.

Nearly half of British voters support exempting migrants who already live and work in the United Kingdom from proposed stricter immigration residency rules, according to recent polling. The findings come amid ongoing debate over Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plan to significantly extend the period immigrants must wait before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Currently, immigrants can apply for permanent residency after five years in the UK. Mahmood’s proposals would raise this qualifying period to 10 years in most cases, and to 15 years for lower-paid foreign workers, while shortening it for the most skilled migrants. These changes are part of a broader effort to tighten immigration controls under the government’s “earned settlement” scheme.

However, Mahmood faces growing opposition within her own party, particularly from Labour MPs concerned that the new requirements would apply retroactively to migrants already living and working in the country, including lower-skilled social care and health workers. This group argues that applying the extended residency rules to those currently employed in critical sectors could worsen existing staffing shortages.

Polling conducted by BMG Research indicates that 45 percent of voters believe migrants already residing in the UK should be exempt from the new ILR waiting times, compared with 33 percent who think the changes should apply to all immigrants regardless of their current status. When asked specifically about lower-skilled health and care workers, the level of support for exemption holds steady at 45 percent, while only 26 percent endorse the application of the tougher rules to these workers.

The care sector in the UK is experiencing acute staffing challenges, with around 96,000 vacancies reported on any given day, according to Skills for Care. Projections suggest the sector will require an additional 410,000 jobs by 2040 to meet demand, highlighting the critical role of migrant workers in maintaining services.

Labour MPs and the trade union Unison have welcomed the polling results and are pressing the government to exclude health and care workers from the proposed immigration reforms. Reports indicate that Mahmood is considering concessions ahead of finalizing the policy later this year, potentially exempting either all migrants currently in the UK or at least those working in the care sector.

In addition to extending residency requirements, Mahmood is also reportedly evaluating plans to impose longer waiting periods before immigrants can access welfare benefits after securing ILR. This proposal appears to have public backing as well, with 44 percent of respondents supporting a three- to four-year delay in benefit eligibility post-settlement, while 37 percent favor immediate access upon receiving ILR.

The government is expected to announce its final immigration rules in the autumn, with policymakers balancing public opinion, sectoral labor needs, and party pressures in shaping reforms.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.