UK considers exempting existing care workers from new immigration rules
8 reported
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is considering exempting hundreds of thousands of care workers from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plans to toughen immigration rules, according to a single-source report from The Guardian. Burnham is expected to give a speech next week outlining his determination to create a National Care Service before the next general election, accelerating a process set up by his predecessor, Keir Starmer. In the speech, Burnham will discuss his personal experience with the care system through his father, Roy, who has Alzheimer’s, and announce he is bringing forward Louise Casey’s review into the sector, originally due to conclude in 2028. The exemption measure is not likely to be included in next week’s speech but could come later in the year after the Home Office considers responses to a public consultation. Burnham has previously argued for replacing inheritance tax with a 10% levy on all estates to pay for a universal care system, but those proposals were scrapped after the Conservatives labeled them a “death tax.” Social care providers say they are financially stretched and unable to provide contracted services due to low contract values with local authorities. The Home Office has granted about 200,000 health and care worker visas in the last five years, with many more coming as dependants.
What’s reported
Burnham is considering exempting existing care workers from Mahmood’s plans to make it harder to achieve settled status.
The exemption is not likely in next week’s speech but could come later in the year.
Burnham will give a speech next week about creating a National Care Service before the next general election.
He is bringing forward Louise Casey’s review, originally due in 2028.
Mahmood has said she will consider exemptions to the new indefinite leave to remain (ILR) rules.
The Home Office granted about 200,000 health and care worker visas in the last five years.
People in England get state-funded care if they have less than £23,250 in assets.
Burnham previously proposed replacing inheritance tax with a 10% levy on all estates, but that was scrapped.
Key figures
Andy Burnham, prime minister
Shabana Mahmood, home secretary
Keir Starmer, predecessor
Roy Burnham, Andy Burnham’s father
Louise Casey, reviewer
Wes Streeting, former health secretary
Andrea Egan, general secretary of Unison
Sources: The Guardian
