Burnham says he has not sought a return to the EU system of free movement, pushing back against suggestions that he or others in Labour have proposed reinstating the pre‑Brexit approach to migration. The prime minister, meanwhile, has called for what he described as an "honest discussion" about how immigration patterns have shifted since the UK left the European Union.
Care worker ILR U‑turn and cost debate
The government’s recent reversal on indefinite leave to remain for some care workers has sparked debate about the fiscal impact of the change. In an interview with the BBC’s Iain Watson, Labour minister Shabana Mahmood declined to put a specific figure on the cost and said an official impact assessment would set out the detailed numbers.
Some commentators have interpreted Mahmood’s remarks to imply the government is now counting on about £7.5bn less in savings than under its original plans. That estimate appears to be based on Mahmood’s earlier statement this year that the initial plan would save about £10bn, combined with her assessment that roughly three‑quarters of the workers who would previously have been covered are now included in the exemption announced yesterday.
Mahmood emphasised she would not "just give you a number" without the formal impact assessment. She said the policy adjustments mean the cohort that will not receive settlement after five years, including care workers who are not working in care and who she said would have been more likely to rely on state support once granted settlement, will now be waiting longer — a change she said "does represent billions in savings to the DWP."
Next steps and political implications
Ministers say the forthcoming impact assessment will provide the official costings and is expected to be central to ongoing parliamentary and public scrutiny. The ILR amendment and the broader immigration debate are likely to remain focal points as parties and commentators weigh the political and economic consequences of post‑Brexit migration policy.