Home secretary set to meet unions as settlement rules face criticism from care sector

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood is scheduled to meet union leaders today to discuss plans for indefinite leave to remain for migrants, the Guardian reported. The meeting comes as the government prepares to unveil tougher settlement rules, a move that has drawn criticism from the care sector.

Andrea Egan, general secretary of Unison, has been vocal against an earlier proposal that would have required foreign care workers to wait 15 years for indefinite leave to remain. Egan condemned Mahmood for refusing to allow a care worker to attend a meeting about the plans. The worker, a Nigerian named Kolade, was barred from the discussion.

Kolade told Aamna Mohdin that he wanted to use the meeting to correct what he sees as a mischaracterisation of migrant care workers. "I was just going to tell her that is not correct," he said. "We are not a burden to the British state. We are also contributing as much as we can, supporting British families."

In a related comment, Burnham declined to say whether net migration remains too high as the settlement proposals are being prepared. The government’s approach to settlement rules is therefore being debated both within the political sphere and among frontline workers who argue that their contributions are being overlooked.

The outcome of Mahmood’s talks with union leaders could shape how long migrant care workers must wait before gaining permanent settlement rights, and may influence broader immigration policy discussions.

Why it matters

The settlement rules will determine how long migrant care workers must wait for permanent residency, affecting both the workforce that supports British families and the wider immigration debate.

Key details

Location

United Kingdom · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

2 Nov 2026, 15:27 IST

Key names

UK Shabana Mahmood, Mahmood, UK, Andrea Egan

Section

Politics

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianBurnham declines to say net migration still too high as Mahmood prepares to unveil tougher settlement rules – UK politics live 2 Nov, 15:27

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

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