Migration minister repeatedly asked question during Sky News interview
A Labour minister was forced to defend the party’s tougher stance on indefinite leave to remain in a Sky News grilling. Migration minister Mike Tapp was repeatedly asked if the Government’s plan to increase the amount of time migrants have to wait from five to 10 years would apply retrospectively.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer has branded Reform UK’s pledge to scrap indefinite leave to remain as “racist”. Host Wilfred Frost said: “It’s quite possible, in fact I’d say it’s almost certain, there will be somebody that’s here already, met all the rules, think they’re going to be here forever and are a year or so away from getting indefinite leave to remain who now won’t qualify for it based on the changes you’re making.
“If it’s racist to potentially remove it from lots of people, surely it’s racist to remove it from that handful of people who might fall foul of your own changes that you’re applying retrospectively?”
Labour minister Mike Tapp and Sky News host Wilfred Frost (Image: SKY NEWS)
Mr Tapp replied: “This Government is decent but also strong and we’re creating a fair system.”
Asked if the Government was going to change the rules retrospectively, Mr Tapp said: “This is going through a consultation…”
The host interrupted and asked again, with Mr Tapp replying: “What we’re saying is we’re moving it from five to 10 years and you have to earn your right to settlement.”
Pressed a third time, he added: “What we’re not saying is what Nigel Farage is saying is that if you have indefinite leave to remain now…”
Asked again, he said: “What we’re saying here is we’re extending from five to 10 years.”
Pressed a further time, Mr Tapp went on: “If you’re pre-five years then of course it’s going to apply to you once that comes in but it needs to go through consultation first.”
The pair then continued to argued over whether that means the change was applied retrospectively.
Mr Tapp said: “That’s not retrospectively because if they haven’t applied for settlement then it’s not retrospective.
“So what we’re saying is you need to earn your right to be here and we’re extending that from five to 10 years.”
Currently, most migrants who come to Britain on time-limited work visas can make an application for indefinite leave to remain after five years.
