Migrants rights charity Praxis coordinated a major mass lobby in Parliament on 11th March alongside Citizens UK, Migration Exchange, the Royal College of Nurses (RCN) and Unison. Over 500 people representing unions, NHS staff and community groups across the UK gathered in Central Lobby inside Parliament to urge their MPs to oppose the Government’s proposed “earned settlement” reforms, which could affect 1.35 million people already living and working in the UK. Campaigners warn the changes represent the biggest overhaul of settlement policy in a generation, risk harming public services, the economy and poverty reduction mandates.

The coalition organising the mass lobby is calling for a maximum five-year route to settlement for all and for a guarantee that no retrospective changes will apply to people already in the UK. The Government’s consultation has closed, and despite the scale of the reforms, some changes could take effect as early as the end of March. Campaigners argue this leaves little time for meaningful parliamentary scrutiny of measures that would disproportionately harm lower-income migrants and key workers, while placing further strain on already stretched public services.

Minnie Rahman, CEO of Praxis:
“Decisions affecting 1.35 million people should not be pushed through by the Government without proper scrutiny or transparent evidence. Imposing retrospective changes for people who have built their lives here is disastrous and will severely damage trust in the UK’s immigration system. These proposals are destabilising and will put migrant families - including those working in our health and social care sectors - at risk of prolonged financial hardship. The British public will also pay the price for these discriminatory changes through negatives impacts on the economy.

The Government must urgently publish impact assessments and allow MPs to exercise their right to scrutinise the proposals. At a minimum, they must guarantee that no changes will retrospectively move the goalposts for people who already call the UK home.”

Hannah Spencer, Green MP for Gorton and Denton, said:

“There are problems with way migration is managed but we can fix this without demonising people. We need a more sensible approach to migration, one that puts people first and puts shared our humanity at its centre.”

Patricia, a campaigner at Praxis:

“I came to the UK believing that if you worked hard and followed the rules, you could build a stable life. My child has complex needs and I claimed the benefits I was legally entitled to so I could care for him properly. Now I’m being told that because I needed that support, my path to settlement could stretch to 20 years.

We already pay thousands in visa fees every few years, and living with this constant uncertainty makes it impossible to plan for the future. It makes you feel like you don’t really belong - even though my children were born here and this is the only home they know. Families like mine are simply trying to care for our children, but these changes are pushing more of them into poverty.”

Olivia Blake, Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam:
“These proposals would lock hundreds of thousands of working people into decades of insecurity. Migrant workers who keep our NHS running, care for our elderly and power local economies are being told their future here is conditional and uncertain. It is against British values of fairness to change these rules retrospectively and the Government must urgently change course.”

Bejoy Sebastian, RCN President:

“Migrant health and care staff aren’t just our colleagues, but part of our communities, our national life and have worked alongside us since the inception of the NHS. It’s difficult to understand why Ministers would create so much uncertainty for those who have made such a vital contribution to society. It is as immoral as it is illogical.

While the Home Secretary has said that registered nurses working in the NHS will stay on the same 5-year qualifying period, there is a vast number of nursing staff across health and social care this will not apply too. Increasing this for nursing support workers and care workers who keep our social care system afloat, as they did during the Covid-19 pandemic, would be an outrageous betrayal.

Constant limbo and uncertainty are no way to treat those who come to the UK to treat our sick and vulnerable. Hostile environment immigration policies will directly impede the government’s reforms to health and social care, and we urge MPs to raise this issue urgently with government and oppose these changes.”

Press Release: Over 500 people gathered in Parliament to urge MPs to reject ‘disastrous’ immigration overhaul

Explainer: statement and consultation on “earned settlement”