UK Energy Secretary Clarifies Support for Migration Policy After Joking Remark
Source reports published 22 Oct 2026, 10:00 am – 23 Oct 2026, 3:54 am AEST
Miatta Fahnbulleh stated her full support for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s migration reforms following a light-hearted comment about not being able to lie. She emphasized the need for migrants to contribute to the country to earn citizenship.
What happened
- Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh clarified her position on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s migration policy following a remark made during an interview.
- Initially, Fahnbulleh avoided directly stating her support for increasing the time foreign workers must wait to gain permanent residency from five to fifteen years, citing a commitment to never lie.
- The proposed change has sparked criticism from colleagues, including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, who warned against shifting the goalposts for those arriving in the UK.
- Fahnbulleh subsequently issued a statement reiterating her support for the government’s position, emphasizing the need for contributions to earn citizenship.
- The government is consulting on proposals to increase the period before foreign workers can claim indefinite leave to remain, backdated to apply to anyone arriving from 2021 onwards.
- Senior allies of Prime Minister Andy Burnham have indicated his support for Mahmood’s plans, while opposition remains strong among Labour MPs and trade unions.
- Concerns have been raised about potential impacts on sectors like care work, with some advocating for exemptions.
- The Home Office maintains that finalising the reforms is underway, carefully considering over 200,000 responses to a consultation exercise.
Original reporting
- BBC: Fahnbulleh says she backs home secretary on migration after comments to journalists
2026-10-22T17:54:51.348000+00:00 - Guardian: Minister insists she backs migration policy after joking she couldn’t lie about supporting it
2026-10-22T00:00:00+00:00