Data Suggests Mahmood’s Migration Reforms Will Save Only Fraction of Claimed £10bn
An exclusive analysis of UK government figures reveals that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s proposed migration reforms are projected to save only £600 million, merely 6% of the £10 billion she claimed. The reforms aim to extend the qualifying period for settled status from five to ten years, thereby restricting migrants' access to public benefits. However, data obtained via a freedom of information request from the Migration Advisory Committee indicates that direct savings are minimal. Professor Jonathan Portes of King’s College London argues that these modest gains could be offset by broader economic costs, such as deterred high earners and reduced tax revenues from workers stuck in lower-skilled visa roles. The data shows migrants typically remain net fiscal contributors for their first two decades in the UK. Consequently, experts contend that the Home Secretary’s justification for the changes is flawed, as care workers and their dependents strengthen public finances rather than drain them. This discrepancy has sparked criticism from thinktanks like IPPR and raised questions within the Labour party about the policy's viability and potential exclusions for public sector workers.
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Data Suggests Mahmood’s Migration Reforms Will Save Only Fraction of Claimed £10bn
An exclusive analysis of UK government figures reveals that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s proposed migration reforms are projected to save only £600 million, merely 6% of the £10 billion she claimed. The reforms aim to extend the qualifying period for settled status from five to ten years, thereby restricting migrants' access to public benefits. However, data obtained via a freedom of information request from the Migration Advisory Committee indicates that direct savings are minimal. Professor Jonathan Portes of King’s College London argues that these modest gains could be offset by broader economic costs, such as deterred high earners and reduced tax revenues from workers stuck in lower-skilled visa roles. The data shows migrants typically remain net fiscal contributors for their first two decades in the UK. Consequently, experts contend that the Home Secretary’s justification for the changes is flawed, as care workers and their dependents strengthen public finances rather than drain them. This discrepancy has sparked criticism from thinktanks like IPPR and raised questions within the Labour party about the policy's viability and potential exclusions for public sector workers.
The Guardian