The $30 million question

Andy Burnham, the Greater Manchester mayor, is backing a hardline immigration clampdown that has been criticized as 'un-British' by Labour MPs.

The move comes after months of debate over the UK's immigration policy, with net migration dropping to an estimated 171,000 last year, the lowest level since the beginning of the pandemic.

A two-way race for Makerfield

The proposal to double the time it takes for legal immigrants to qualify for indefinite leave to remain from five to 10 years has sparked a two-way race between Burnham and Reform,who have branded him as 'open borders Burnham'.

The Greens have unveiled their Makerfield candidate , vowing to fight Reform but also hold Burnham's feet to the fire regarding his stance on immigration and other policies .

Angela Rayner's warning

Labour MP Angela Rayner has criticized the proposal, saying it is 'un-British' and will harm the country's reputation.

The proposal was not included in the King's Speech list, but its allies believe it will still go ahead.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The proposal to apply the change retroactively to migrants already in Britain, affecting around 2.2 million people who have arrived since 2021, has raised concerns about the impact on the country's economy and social fabric.

As the debate rages on , one thing is clear: the future of immigration policy in the UK will have far-reaching consequences for the country and its people.