Who is Britain's 'perfect' immigrant? New proposals on indefinite leave to remain
UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood wants to judge migrants by their contribution to the country when deciding on permanent settlement rights. The proposals are now being considered by MPs in the House of Commons.
Shabana Mahmood, the UK's home secretary, has put forward changes to how migrants obtain so-called indefinite leave to remain, the right to settle permanently in Britain. MPs in the House of Commons are now considering the proposals. They form part of the latest attempt to reform the country's complex immigration policy, with Mahmood being the most recent home secretary to take on the task.
Under her plans, migrants would be assessed on the extent of their contribution to the country. This would take into account their skills, their salary and the kind of job they are able to fill.
Different perspectives
On Politico Europe's Westminster Insider podcast, host Sascha O'Sullivan tries to establish who Britain actually regards as its 'perfect' immigrant. The episode weighs the very different views of the Home Office, voters and economists.
Her guest is Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University and interim chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, which advises the Home Office.
The programme also features Sojan Joseph, a Labour MP born in Kerala. He recounts how he came to the UK to work as a care worker and how he tried to navigate a society whose demands of the 'perfect' immigrant are varied and often contradictory.
