Two million legal migrants who arrived in the UK from 2021 must have stayed in the country for at least 10 years to be considered for settled status, under new proposals put forward by the home secretary.
Earlier this year the government announced it would double the qualifying period for migrants hoping to be granted permanent settlement from five years to 10 years, with reductions available for those who make a "strong contribution" to British life.
Shabana Mahmood has announced that the two million people who arrived in the UK from 2021 - under what Labour has dubbed the "Boris wave" - will now have to wait 10 years for permanent settlement.
Other proposals being put forward by Ms Mahmood include:
- New rules that mean migrants can only become eligible for benefits and social housing if they are granted British citizenship, rather than settled status.
Low-paid workers, such as the 616,000 people and their dependents who came on health and social care visas between 2022 and 2024, will be subject to a 15-year baseline.
Changing rules so that those reliant on benefits face a 20-year wait for settlement - quadruple the current period and the longest in Europe.
Giving a statement in the House of Commons, Ms Mahmood said settling in the UK was not a "right" but a "privilege that must be earned".
She expressed fears that "Greater Britain" was in danger of "giving way to Littler England" and that current divisions could lead to danger for migrants and their families, including hers.
She added: "Some will choose to scorn this analysis. They would rather we simply wished it away, but those who look like me do not have that luxury, our lives, and those of our families, are more dangerous in a country that turns inwards. So we have no choice but to ask, what is the cause of our division, and how might this country be united?"
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the latest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.