Nearly 80 Labour MPs urge Andy Burnham to oppose immigration reforms

A group of nearly 80 Labour MPs has reportedly urged Andy Burnham to oppose proposed immigration reforms,

LONDON: A group of nearly 80 Labour MPs has reportedly urged Andy Burnham to oppose proposed immigration reforms, exposing growing divisions within the governing party over the future direction of migration and asylum policy.

In a letter sent to Burnham following the recent Makerfield by-election, the MPs argue that the Government risks focusing on measures that make it harder for legal migrants to settle in the UK rather than addressing public concerns over irregular migration.

The letter criticises proposals that could extend the route to permanent settlement for many migrants to between 10 and 20 years, warning that such changes would make Britain an international outlier and damage its attractiveness to skilled workers, students and investors.

“We need a national migration levels plan,” the MPs wrote, arguing that legal migration should be aligned with labour market needs, public services and long-term economic growth.

The signatories said sectors including construction, advanced manufacturing and clean energy depend on a well-managed immigration system capable of addressing workforce shortages while supporting Britain’s reindustrialisation agenda.

The MPs also warned that delaying settlement could increase pressure on local authorities, housing departments and children’s services, arguing that councils should play a greater role in shaping migration policy.

On asylum, the letter calls for an expansion of safe and managed routes for refugees, a review of the suspension of family reunion for unaccompanied children and the introduction of the right to work for asylum seekers after six months.

It also advocates closing asylum hotels, improving the asylum accommodation system, reducing the appeals backlog and strengthening cooperation with international partners on refugee protection.

The intervention highlights growing unease among some Labour parliamentarians over the Government’s approach to immigration, with critics arguing that reforms should distinguish more clearly between irregular migration and legal migration that supports the economy and public services.

The reported letter comes amid an increasingly intense political debate over immigration, with ministers seeking to tighten the system while balancing economic needs and public expectations. The Government has not yet publicly responded to the letter.