Shabana Mahmood has raised concerns about a rising trend in Britain towards ethno-nationalism instead of patriotism. The Home Secretary vowed to take a firm stance on immigration issues, cautioning that voters could be swayed by misleading assurances from Nigel Farage if the Labour party fails to address the situation adequately. She outlined a series of measures aimed at tightening the criteria for obtaining indefinite leave to remain in the UK, emphasizing the need for individuals to demonstrate their contribution to society to be eligible to stay.
In her address at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Mahmood highlighted the deep divisions in society, pointing to the large turnout at a march organized by Tommy Robinson in London as a stark example. She acknowledged the existence of groups with extremist views but stressed the importance of recognizing the broader societal issues fueling such sentiments.
Mahmood underscored the urgency of securing the UK’s borders and combating illegal small boat crossings to prevent further division. She expressed concern that patriotism is evolving into a more exclusionary form of ethno-nationalism, making it challenging for individuals of diverse backgrounds to be fully accepted as British. The Home Secretary emphasized the need to address the root causes behind the shift from patriotism to ethno-nationalism and called for a better understanding of why some people feel marginalized in the country.
Citing the strain caused by high levels of immigration on public trust and confidence, Mahmood criticized the Conservative party for what she termed a betrayal of the public. She announced plans to extend the residency requirement for obtaining indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years and introduced new criteria such as employment, financial contributions, language proficiency, clean criminal records, and community engagement as prerequisites for settlement in the UK.
Green MP Carla Denyer criticized Mahmood’s proposals to restrict Indefinite Leave to Remain, arguing that they are disconnected from the reality of migration in the country. Denyer called for a more pragmatic approach that focuses on integrating migrants into communities and allowing asylum seekers to work to contribute positively to the economy and society. She suggested that the government should reform the migration system to prioritize community well-being rather than solely focusing on reducing immigration numbers.