British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday 26 October 2026 that he stood by the principles of immigration reform set out by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, following speculation that a political backlash could force the plans to be watered down. Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, he said settlement should be earned rather than granted automatically, and that the Home Secretary would set out the final conclusion soon.

The proposal at the centre of the discussion would extend the time it takes to secure indefinite leave to remain to 15 years from five years for some migrants. Burnham did not, in the remarks reported, set out a final timetable or confirm which groups would be affected, and the proposal has not been presented as a rule already in force. That distinction matters for anyone following the debate, because a stated policy position is not the same as a change to the Immigration Rules.

What remains unchanged for now

Current GOV.UK settlement guidance describes indefinite leave to remain as how a person settles in the UK, and sets out route-by-route eligibility, including a five-year period for Skilled Worker and similar routes. Anyone planning around settlement should therefore check the official GOV.UK page for their own route before acting, as rules change and the final form of any reform may differ from earlier proposals.

This article is a news summary only and is not personal immigration advice. Readers who need advice on their own case should use the official GOV.UK guidance or a regulated immigration adviser, and should check the official page again before making any application, since rules change.