UK net migration needs to fall further, says Andy Burnham

Andy Burnham, Labour’s mayor of Greater Manchester and by-election candidate for Makerfield, has called for UK net migration to fall further following new government data showing it nearly halved last year. The Office for National Statistics reported that net migration added 171,000 people to the UK population in the previous year, the lowest level since 2012 excluding the pandemic period. Burnham noted that immigration concerns are frequently raised by voters and expressed support for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s proposed measures to tighten settlement rules, while emphasizing the need to balance fairness and control. The Home Office plans aim to reduce the number of people granted indefinite leave to remain, which allows migrants to live, work, and access benefits in the UK indefinitely. Without changes, an estimated 1.6 million people could settle between 2026 and 2030. While Burnham supports the general direction of these reforms, some Labour figures, including former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, have criticized the proposals as retrospective and unfair. Burnham acknowledged the importance of consultation and the challenge of striking the right balance between immigration control and fairness. In addition to migration, Burnham addressed recent guidance on single-sex spaces issued by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission and endorsed by ministers. The guidance states that access to spaces such as changing rooms and toilets should be based on biological sex. Burnham said he now accepts the Supreme Court ruling affirming this definition under the Equality Act, marking a shift in his position. He stressed the need to implement the ruling without further marginalizing vulnerable groups, maintaining his long-standing “live and let live” approach to social issues. Burnham’s comments reflect ongoing debates within the Labour Party and the wider UK political landscape over immigration policy and transgender rights, highlighting the complexities of balancing public concerns, legal frameworks, and social inclusion.