Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has publicly reaffirmed her criticism of Home Office reforms that significantly tighten residency requirements for foreign care workers. The policy, which mandates that low-paid migrants in non-graduate roles must reside in the UK for 15 years before becoming eligible for permanent settlement, was originally introduced under the current government to address public concerns regarding net migration levels.

Rayner, who previously characterized the restrictive measures as “un-British,” continues to describe the impact of these reforms as “disruptive” to the social care sector. The policy remains a point of internal friction within the government, as it was initially devised to manage political pressure surrounding immigration numbers. While the government maintains that these measures are necessary to control migration, critics—including Rayner—argue that the long-term residency requirements create instability for essential workers who are already in the country.

There is a notable tension between the government’s stated goal of reducing migration and the practical implications for the care industry. While the Home Office defends the 15-year threshold as a tool for immigration management, the debate highlights a broader disagreement within the administration regarding how to balance migration targets with the staffing needs of the UK's care system.