Angela Rayner defends criticism of UK care worker visa reforms

Angela Rayner, the UK's housing secretary, has reiterated her criticism of proposed Home Office reforms that would significantly extend the period foreign care workers must wait to apply for permanent residency in the UK. Rayner described the plans as "disruptive" and unfair to individuals who have moved to the country to fill labor shortages.

The policy, initially devised under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, would require low-paid migrants on jobs below graduate level to reside in the UK for 15 years before being eligible for settlement. Rayner had previously attacked these plans as "un-British".

There is understood to be unease within the Labour party about the reforms, with current Home Secretary Andy Burnham reportedly considering exempting workers already in the UK. More than 100 Labour MPs and several trade unions also oppose the changes. Rayner, a former care worker herself, expressed concern that the goalposts were being moved for staff who had relocated to care for vulnerable individuals.

Government officials are still considering responses to a consultation on the issue, and the policy has not yet been finalized. Approximately 180,000 foreign care workers came to Britain between 2022 and 2024, and many would qualify for permanent residency in 2027 under current rules. The Labour government had previously moved to restrict the recruitment of care workers from abroad and their ability to bring family members to the UK.

Backbench MP Rachael Maskell expressed confidence that the reforms would be altered to avoid retrospective application. Rayner indicated that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was aware of her dissenting views.