How irrational are Labour’s plans for migrant workers? To find out, read the small print

The Guardian Politics Thursday 05 November 2026, 06:00 UTC By Frances Ryan 1 min read

Key Points

Despite the partial U-turn on care worker visas, the staff who keep the system afloat still face a hostile environmentIf you want to see the senselessness of Britain’s immigration debate play out in real time, look no further than the crackdown on care workers’ visas that came to a head this week. As part of its plans to force low-paid migrant workers to wait 15 years before settlement in the UK, the Home Office has been in a battle behind the scenes for the past six months to...

Despite the partial U-turn on care worker visas, the staff who keep the system afloat still face a hostile environment

If you want to see the senselessness of Britain’s immigration debate play out in real time, look no further than the crackdown on care workers’ visas that came to a head this week.

As part of its plans to force low-paid migrant workers to wait 15 years before settlement in the UK, the Home Office has been in a battle behind the scenes for the past six months to controversially include care workers in the policy. This is despite the social care system already facing critical staff shortages and the number of British citizens and immigrants taking the jobs dwindling.

Frances Ryan is a Guardian columnist

Labour (ORG) Britain (LOCATION) UK (LOCATION) the Home Office (ORG) British (ORG) Frances Ryan (PERSON) Guardian (ORG)

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How irrational are Labour’s plans for migrant workers? To find out, read the small print

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