A letter signed by almost 80 Labour backbench MPs and circulated on 10 July calls on Home Secretary Andy Burnham to halt planned ‘earned-settlement’ reforms that would require most skilled visa holders to wait up to 10–20 years before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain. First reported by LBC and the i, the letter argues the changes would make the UK an international outlier, deter global talent and disproportionately hit nurses, care workers and other key sectors already facing shortages. The MPs warn that applying the new rules retrospectively to migrants who entered under the current five-year route “fails the fairness test” and risks reputational damage to Britain’s post-Brexit immigration system. They also fear the longer qualifying period would encourage onward migration and increase churn just as the National Health Service and other public services seek stability. Business groups have voiced similar concerns. The CBI says companies will face higher turnover costs and a renewed sponsorship cycle as employees approach the five-year mark and assess their options. TechUK believes the reform could undercut the government’s own strategy to make the UK a global science and technology hub by 2030. The Home Office insists that the longer path is necessary to reduce net migration and to strengthen the link between residence and meaningful economic contribution. However, pressure from within the governing party suggests ministers may need to offer transitional protection or concessions for existing workers to secure parliamentary support.
