under government proposals. The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will be extended from five to 10 years, and will apply to the estimated 1.6million who arrived since 2021. The changes will not apply to people who had already obtained settlement. Those who have claimed benefits for less than 12 months would have to wait 15 years - and those claiming benefits for more than 12 months would have to wait 20 years, under the proposals. Mahmood said becoming part of the UK is "not a right but a privilege - and one that must be earned". (BBC)