Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged reforms to migration law, insisting that people must demonstrate a social contribution before they can settle in Britain. In her first major interview since taking over the Home Office, Ms Mahmood suggested that migration levels “have been too high” and acknowledged public concerns over the rapid pace of arrivals.
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Speaking to the Sun on Sunday ahead of Labour’s party conference in Liverpool, she said she intends to tighten the rules around claiming indefinite leave to remain, the status which allows legal migrants to settle in the UK without repeatedly renewing their visas. Ms Mahmood emphasised the value of legal migration while insisting that living and working in the UK should be accompanied by meaningful contributions to local communities.
The Home Secretary also warned that current arrangements, such as housing illegal migrants in hotels, have been a “total disaster for the country”. She stressed that securing the UK’s borders is “fundamental to holding the country together” and cautioned that failing to act could further divide the nation. Ms Mahmood highlighted the growing threat of far-right movements, describing the moment as “dangerous” for the country.
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In addition, Ms Mahmood promised reforms to human rights legislation before Christmas, aiming to prevent misuse of the European Convention on Human Rights and other treaties in ways “that were never intended”. These measures form part of a broader plan to ensure that migration is managed responsibly while maintaining public confidence in the UK’s legal and social systems.
