A GOVERNMENT proposal to retrospectively double the length of time to 10 years for migrants who want to seek indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK has been criticised by Wellington’s MP Gideon Amos.

Mr Amos said it would affect migrant carers working in the NHS and care homes locally and would have ‘massive impacts’ on older and vulnerable people’s care.

He said care workers who were promised they could apply for indefinite leave to remain after working here for five years could instead be faced with removal from the UK.

Mr Amos spoke in a Westminster Hall debate in support of migrants in the healthcare sector in the Wellington area whose visas would not allow them to stay for additional years, leaving them fearing for their futures.

Mr Amos said: “Everybody recognises the immigration system needs to be controlled and workable, but this debate is not about the immigration system.

“It is not about people who may come here or are thinking of coming here, it is about people who are here, who have answered our call to come and work in our health services and in our country.

“They have settled here, and they are already providing that vital work.

“These changes, extending ILR requirements from five years to 10, would remove from my constituency the care workers and potentially the care services that people need and rely on.

“I do not know who the Government think will vote for the removal of care and care workers from their constituencies.

“It cannot be right to change the rules after people have made that big decision to uproot themselves and invest their lives halfway around the world to be here.

“Effectively sending people away and breaking that promise would have massive impacts on older and vulnerable people in Taunton and Wellington.”