Burnham expected to vote in favour of Mahmood’s asylum system changes | Immigration and asylum
Andy Burnham is expected to vote on the immigration bill in the House of Commons on Monday night and his team has indicated support for Shabana Mahmood’s amendments to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and refugee settlement.
The bill returns to the House of Commons on Monday for its second reading; Here, Mahmood is also expected to announce plans to enable the deportation of Shabir Ahmed, the ringleader of a grooming ring, a move that Burnham has publicly supported.
Other potential changes to the bill, including those made by MPs to soften changes to the ILR, are likely to come at a later parliamentary stage when Burnham is prime minister.
The changes will double the time required to qualify for ILR from five to 10 years, giving immigrants the right to live and work in Britain permanently. Mahmood was keen for the change to apply to the recent surge in immigrants arriving on new visas issued by the last Conservative government, mostly to care workers.
MPs are not expecting a rebellion over Monday’s bill, although there will be some abstentions as some skeptics in the party still hold out hope of tweaking the ILR to stop changes being applied retrospectively before it reaches its final stage in the House of Commons.
The Home Office said it would respond to consultations on the changes soon. One option being considered is for those currently in the UK to qualify for ILR after a waiting period of five years, rather than ten, but would have to wait an additional period to claim any state aid.
Almost 80 Labor MPs signed a letter to Burnham calling on her to change the policy to stop it being applied to immigrants already in the country, describing it as “an anathema to who we are, what we stand for and how we should do politics”.
Burnham signaled during the Makerfield by-election campaign that she was pleased that most of the immigration changes were being made by Mahmood, who is expected to remain home secretary. A spokesman for Burnham said: “Andy believes the public deserve an asylum system that is both compassionate and safe.
“This bill takes important steps towards restoring trust by tackling illegal crossings while strengthening safe and legal routes for genuine refugees. This is about ensuring the system is fair for both those seeking protection and the communities that welcome them.”
Mahmood is also expected to lay out plans later on Monday for how the government will change the law to deport Ahmed, who was recently released from prison after 22 years in prison for multiple sexual offenses against children, including rape.
Currently Ahmed cannot be deported due to a 1971 law that applies to Commonwealth citizens who arrived in the UK more than 50 years ago. Mahmood plans to change this to enable the deportation of those convicted of serious crimes; however, Pakistan has made it clear that it is unlikely to accept Ahmed’s return.
A No 10 spokesman said: “We are determined to do everything to deport this vile criminal and explore every possible option.”
