Mahmood is set to water down her migrant crackdown, sparing care workers already in the UK a 15-year wait

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will announce on Monday a sweeping overhaul of indefinite leave to remain rules, forcing most legal migrants to wait up to a decade or more before settling permanently in the UK. Care workers already in the country are expected to receive an exemption after Cabinet pressure from Angela Rayner, with overseas care recruits on course to fall by more than 90 per cent compared with three years ago.

Most migrant workers outside social care will face waits of 10 to 15 years for settlement rights.

Mahmood is also expected to unveil a points-based system allowing migrants to cut their wait by demonstrating community contributions or higher earnings.

Mahmood will meet union leaders on Monday before presenting the reforms to MPs, with unions warning of NHS and care staff shortages.