Britain’s energy secretary has been forced to publicly affirm her backing for controversial immigration reforms after appearing to suggest she could not bring herself to support a key government policy, according to The Guardian – UK news.
Miatta Fahnbulleh issued a clarification on Thursday evening following remarks at a Westminster journalists’ event where she joked about an “awkward” television interview in which she repeatedly declined to endorse plans making foreign workers wait 15 years for permanent residency.
Speaking to the media gathering, Fahnbulleh said she had made three promises when entering politics, the first being to never lie. She told attendees this principle had “created some awkward moments, including being interviewed by Sophy Ridge yesterday,” according to the news outlet.
The implication that supporting the policy would constitute lying appears to have caused friction within government ranks, though Downing Street declined to confirm whether they requested the subsequent statement.
Cabinet tensions over migration reforms
In her social media statement, Fahnbulleh said her earlier comment was intended as “lighthearted” and “self-deprecating” but acknowledged it had not landed as planned. She affirmed full support for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and the government’s migration reform position, stating it was “absolutely right that people should have to make a contribution to this country in order to earn citizenship.”
The episode highlights growing cabinet divisions over Mahmood’s proposals, which would increase the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to 15 years. The changes would apply retrospectively to anyone arriving from 2021 onwards.
Fahnbulleh and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are among senior figures reportedly uncomfortable with elements of the plan. Earlier this year, Rayner publicly criticised the proposals, whilst dozens of Labour MPs have voiced opposition.
Reports emerged this week that Fahnbulleh’s Peckham constituency website featured a since-removed post quoting her saying: “If we continually prolong the time people have to wait for settlement, we can also prolong the process of building cohesion.”
Consultation and possible exemptions
The Home Office has received more than 200,000 responses to its consultation on the proposed changes. Mahmood has previously hinted that care workers might be exempted from the extended waiting period, though recent reports suggest she is holding firm on the policy with support from the prime minister.
Mike Tapp, a former immigration minister who clashed with Mahmood over the issue, urged the home secretary to “read the room” regarding opposition strength. He argued that people who have genuinely worked in Britain “shouldn’t be punished and should have the right to apply for settlement after five years as they expected.”
Campaigners hope to convince the government to exempt care workers, though the Home Office has warned this could trigger an exodus of foreign workers from the sector once their visa terms no longer bind them.
Downing Street emphasised on Wednesday that Mahmood was “carefully considering” consultation responses before finalising the changes. A spokesman said the home secretary was leading “a thorough piece of work to ensure we get this right.”
What this means for Poles in the UK
Polish nationals holding pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are not affected by these proposals, which apply to visa holders on skilled worker and other immigration routes introduced after Brexit. However, Poles who arrived after 2021 on work visas rather than under EU freedom of movement rules could be caught by the retrospective element if implemented as proposed.
Anyone currently on a five-year path to indefinite leave to remain should monitor the outcome of the consultation closely. If the policy proceeds with retrospective application, it could significantly extend the period before qualifying for permanent residency and eventually British citizenship. Care workers employed on health and care visas may receive an exemption, though this remains under discussion.
The Home Office has not announced a deadline for finalising the policy. Those affected should check the official Home Office website and consider seeking immigration advice if their settlement plans may be impacted by the proposed changes.
