Energy Minister Fahnbulleh Clarifies Support for Mahmood's Migration Reforms

Energy Minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has affirmed her backing for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms after making remarks that drew scrutiny from journalists. According to BBC News, Fahnbulleh initially declined to explicitly endorse the government's plans during a Wednesday interview, prompting questions about her position within the Cabinet.

When asked repeatedly whether she supported the government's proposals to extend the time required for migrants to obtain permanent UK residency, Fahnbulleh refused to give a direct answer. The following day, she characterised her evasiveness as a joke, telling reporters she had made a promise to herself never to lie, which she said had created awkward moments during her Sky News interview. In a subsequent statement, she acknowledged the remark had misfired and clarified her stance entirely.

I fully support our home secretary and the government's position on migration reform.

Fahnbulleh elaborated on her position by emphasising the importance of contribution.

As I said earlier this week, it's absolutely right that people should have to make a contribution to this country in order to earn citizenship,

she stated in her clarification.

What are the government's migration proposals?

The government intends to significantly lengthen the pathway to permanent residence, or indefinite leave to remain, which currently grants individuals the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely and access benefits if eligible. Under the proposed reforms, most migrant workers would need to wait 10 years instead of the current five years to qualify for this status. For refugees, the timeline could extend to 20 years, though the Migration Observatory at Oxford noted that the proposed 20-year baseline applies to people granted asylum, while those arriving through official resettlement programmes would face a 10-year baseline.

According to the Independent, the proposal under discussion would extend the settlement wait to 15 years for foreign workers in certain sectors, rather than the 10-year general proposal. A government source told the outlet that ministers could not offer views on specific parts of the policy while the consultation remained under review and the final policy remained unsettled.

Why has this proposal proved controversial?

A substantial number of Labour MPs and trade unions have called for the government to reconsider the proposed changes. Labour MPs have threatened a parliamentary vote to expose party divisions over the reforms, while trade unions have urged the government to soften the 10-year residency wait for migrants.

Cabinet minister Angela Rayner has been particularly vocal in her criticism. She warned about shifting

the goalposts years down the line

for people who arrived in the UK at the beginning of this decade, expecting to secure permanent residence under the current rules. Rayner later denied that disagreement over the issue signalled a split within the government's upper ranks.

Fahnbulleh herself has a personal stake in immigration policy. The Independent reported that Fahnbulleh came to the UK as a refugee while arguing that the immigration system needed fundamental reform. She had reportedly posted, then deleted, criticism of efforts to prolong the wait for settlement, saying they risked prolonging

the process of building cohesion.

What is the government's position on the consultation?

Mahmood outlined the government's approach at Labour Party conference in September, stating the administration would

come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally and fairness to British citizens across this country.

Downing Street has repeatedly maintained that Mahmood is carefully reviewing responses to the consultation exercise before finalising the reforms.

On Wednesday, the prime minister's official spokesman said:

The home secretary is leading a thorough piece of work to make sure we get this right.

When pressed on Sky News the same day about whether she backed the proposed reforms, Fahnbulleh responded by emphasising the need for immigration system reform.

We have got to reform our immigration system, and my view is that we need a system that is based on the principle of compassion, contribution.

She was pressed several additional times on the matter, reiterating that the government was consulting on the proposals and would

come out with the measures that we take forward.

What happens next?

The government consultation on earned settlement was scheduled to close on 12 February 2026, according to the government's consultation document. However, the government has not yet announced a final decision date for the reforms. Home Secretary Mahmood has also announced plans to reopen the UK Resettlement Scheme on 28 September 2026, prioritising Afghan women and girls and Palestinians, with the scheme offering immediate indefinite leave to remain.