PM Burnham stops short of full support for immigration reforms after cabinet Backlash

Energy Secretary Fahnbulleh Clarifies Stance After Initial Refusal to Endorse Plans

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has declined to commit to implementing the full scope of Home Secretary Yvette Mahmood's immigration reforms after senior cabinet ministers voiced opposition, with Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh initially failing to back the proposals before later expressing full support.

The prime minister's comments come amid speculation that the proposals, which would extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for foreign care workers from five to up to ten years, could be watered down to avoid a Labour rebellion.

Mr Burnham said the government would 'come forward with our decisions soon' following a consultation, adding that he 'strongly supports' the home secretary's principle that settlement is a 'right to be earned'.

The reforms have caused tension within the cabinet. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner earlier this year publicly criticised the prospect of backdating the plans. This week, Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh repeatedly refused to express support for the proposals in a Sky News interview. Ms Fahnbulleh later deleted a social media post criticising attempts to 'prolong the time people have to wait for settlement' and issued a statement saying she 'fully supports' the home secretary and the government's position, describing her earlier remarks as a 'light-hearted self-deprecating remark'.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The outcome will decide the immigration rights of foreign workers, particularly in care sectors, facing extended waits for permanent residency.
The cabinet discord raises questions about the government's ability to present a unified front on contentious policy.

Background

The immigration reforms, proposed in November 2025, aim to tighten requirements for indefinite leave to remain, reflecting a shift toward a contribution-based system. The consultation phase has exposed significant internal disagreement.

Key Perspectives

Prime Minister Andy Burnham: Supports the principle of earned settlement but delays final decisions until consultation ends. Home Secretary Yvette Mahmood: Advocate for stricter ILR rules, facing opposition from within the cabinet. Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh: Initially wavered but later reaffirmed full support for the reforms. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner: Criticised backdating, indicating broader concerns from the party's left. Critics: Senior MPs and ministers who may force changes to the proposals.

What to Watch

The government's formal response following the consultation.
Any further cabinet leaks or public disagreements.
Potential amendments to the reforms during their legislative path.

Sources

Burnham fails to commit to bringing in Mahmood’s immigration reforms in full after cabinet backlash · The Independent UK

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedBurnham stopped short of giving full support to the immigration reforms after cabinet backlash.The Independent UK: “Andy Burnham has stopped short of committing to bringing in all of the home secretary’s immigration reforms days after senior ministers failed to give it their full support.”
SupportedFahnbulleh initially refused to endorse the plans, then clarified her stance.The Independent UK: “an interview on Sky News in which she repeatedly refused to say whether she backed the plans. ... On Thursday, Ms Fahnbulleh said she “fully” supports the home secretary’s immigration reforms”
Partly supportedThe proposals would extend foreign care workers’ qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to up to ten years.The Independent UK: “There has been a backlash within the party to the proposal to increase the five-year wait for claiming indefinite leave to remain by up to 10 years for foreign care workers.”
SupportedBurnham said the government would “come forward with our decisions soon” following a consultation.The Independent UK: “the government would “come forward with our decisions soon” following a consultation.”
SupportedBurnham said he “strongly supports” the home secretary’s principle that settlement is a “right to be earned”.The Independent UK: ““But I strongly support the home secretary when she says that settlement is a right to be earned through contribution”
SupportedThe proposals could be watered down to avoid a Labour rebellion.The Independent UK: “Speculation has mounted that proposals to extend the time before foreign workers can claim permanent residence in the UK could be watered down to avoid a Labour rebellion”
SupportedRayner publicly criticised the prospect of backdating the plans earlier this year.The Independent UK: “Tensions in the cabinet over the policy surfaced when housing secretary Angela Rayner earlier this year publicly attacked the prospect of backdating the plans.”
SupportedFahnbulleh repeatedly refused to express support for the proposals in a Sky News interview.The Independent UK: “an interview on Sky News in which she repeatedly refused to say whether she backed the plans.”
SupportedFahnbulleh deleted a post criticising attempts to “prolong the time people have to wait for settlement”.The Independent UK: “energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh hit out at any attempt to “prolong the time people have to wait for settlement” in a later-deleted online post.”
Partly supportedFahnbulleh issued a statement saying she “fully supports” the home secretary and the government’s position.The Independent UK: “Ms Fahnbulleh later posted on X: “Today I made what was meant to be a light-hearted self-deprecating remark. ... I fully support our home secretary and the government’s position on migration reform.””