British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Monday he stood by the principles of reform to the immigration system set out by his interior minister, following speculation that a political backlash could force them to be watered down, Reuters reported.

Source: Reuters

Asked if he agreed with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's policy of extending the time it takes to secure indefinite leave to remain to 15 years from 5 for some migrants, Burnham told ITV's Good Morning Britain he stood by the principle of what she had put forward, Reuters said.

Source: Reuters

“The home secretary is right, in my view, to bring forward changes that are based on the principle that settlement is a right to be earned, not just something that is granted automatically,” Burnham said. “And she'll set out the final conclusion soon.”

Source: Reuters, quoting Burnham on ITV's Good Morning Britain

What this means, and what it does not: the prime minister has backed the principle, not published a final rule. The 15-year figure is the policy he was asked about, for some migrants; who it would apply to, and from when, is part of the final conclusion Mahmood is still to set out. For Punjabi and Indian families in the UK — students, workers and relatives building towards settlement — that final detail is what will decide whether a five-year path becomes a much longer one.

Source: Reuters