UK tightens rules on foreign worker settlement

United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the country has "lost control of immigration" since the 2016 referendum that saw it decide to leave the European Union, and that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has his "full support" in "gripping this problem".

The terms under which the UK finally left the EU in 2020, the process known as Brexit, left it with no alternative arrangement in place for returning people attempting to enter the country illegally, which has resulted in large numbers of potentially life-threatening attempted crossings of the English Channel by migrants.

This has turned immigration into one of the most high-profile and contentious issues in British politics, and on Monday Mahmood gave a speech in which she set out her plans to further tighten rules about people looking to settle in the country, in a bid to discourage people attempting illegal entry.

"I know the people of this country wish to continue welcoming genuine refugees. However, I also know that there is nothing fair about allowing unsafe and illegal entry into this country," she said, highlighting that dealing with asylum claims costs taxpayers 4 billion pounds ($5.3 billion) a year.

"As we open new safe and legal routes for genuine refugees, we must also discourage dangerous, unsafe and illegal crossings. And settlement plays a key part in this," she continued.

"We will place those who come to this country on one of our new safe and legal routes on a five-year path to settlement. This is as fast a path as higher earners entering Britain today.

"At the same time, we will discourage the use of unsafe and illegal routes, the standard disqualifying period for all refugees who have not come by a safe and legal route will become 20 years … a further 10 years will be added for those who entered the country by an illegal method."

For most workers, the qualifying period for the status known as indefinite leave to remain, which entitles people to live, work or study for as long as they wish, will rise from five to 10 years, but high earners and those in public service roles such as doctors and nurses will be able to settle after five years.

Lower-paid workers in the care sector will also be subject to the five-year rule.

She said this was in recognition of those who had "worked hard and answered our call when we needed them", and Burnham backed up her new position, saying it was "only fair that those who are making the most valuable contribution to our communities are given the opportunity to settle earlier."

"People want to see an immigration system based on control, contribution, and which rewards those who play by the rules," he added.