Charities that lobbied Shabana Mahmood to water down immigration rules received more than £1bn in taxpayers' cash

The charities that lobbied Shabana Mahmood to water down her immigration reforms were handed more than £1billion in taxpayer-funded contracts and grants.

Yesterday, the Home Secretary unveiled plans that were a significant retreat from her initial promise to tighten the pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Ms Mahmood announced the wait for care workers to gain ILR will be reduced from 15 years to five, even as the Home Office warned the move could cost £10billion.

The Home Secretary is said to have buckled under pressure from left-wing Cabinet ministers, Labour MPs and some charitable organisations.

New research found 38 charitable organisations both lobbied politicians and submitted responses to the official consultation on the changes.

It found these groups drew an eye-watering combined £1billion in public money during their most recent financial year.

Mencap, the learning disabilities charity, topped the list with more than £200million in contracts and grants during 2024-25. The organisation urged MPs to “retain the five-year (ILR) pathway in place for social care workers”.

Barnardo's, which received £192million in public funding over the same period, told lawmakers it “does not support the principles of earned settlement... as a basis for determining whether children can live safely and securely in the UK”.

Migrant and refugee charity Praxis, which took in nearly £1 million in contracts and grants through March 2025, went further still, rejecting the concept of earned settlement “entirely”.

The organisation also published guidance suggesting illegal arrivals should not be penalised when seeking permanent residency.

Praxis additionally helped bring over 500 people to Parliament in March to lobby roughly 100 MPs against the proposals.

The Home Office's own analysis of the consultation showed that 66 per cent of the 560 responses from third-sector organisations argued that illegal arrivals should face no penalty when applying for permanent settlement in Britain.

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Reacting to the findings, Robert Bates, Research Director at the Centre for Migration Control, told GB News: “Taxpayers' money has been used to lobby for an immigration policy that will cause this country long-term fiscal and social harm.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that the Home Office's consultation was hijacked by well-resourced left-wing activist groups and charities that are wedded to the idea of mass migration.

“Ms Mahmood's settlement proposals hold no public consent and are fundamentally unfair to the British public,” he said.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, concurred: “While charities have an important role to play in community services, Britons don't expect their taxes to be funding organisations who are pushing political agendas.”

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the practice in stark terms, telling the Daily Mail: “It takes some brass neck to take millions from British taxpayers and then spend it campaigning against Britain controlling its borders. These charities seem to think the public purse is there to bankroll their political agenda, whatever the public wants.”

Responding, Praxis CEO Minnie Rahman said: “Praxis exists to provide support and services to people experiencing poverty and homelessness. It is a charity's role to advocate for the people it works with, and we are proud of our service provision and campaign work, which advocates against policies that push people into destitution and increase the number of children in poverty.”

Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive at learning disability charity Mencap, said: “The social care sector is already facing a significant workforce crisis, with care providers across the country struggling to recruit and retain staff. At the same time, increasing numbers of domestic workers are leaving the sector.

“Overseas care workers remain a vital part of the workforce. Maintaining a route to settlement helps provide stability for both workers and employers, while protecting the continuity of care and trusted relationships that people with a learning disability depend on.

“We regularly engage with policymakers on issues that affect people with a learning disability and will continue to press for the support they need to live their lives to the full.”

A Barnardo’s spokesperson said they support families: “In partnership with national and local government, the NHS and businesses - as well as with the incredible support of people and organisations who share a commitment to our cause.

"Part of our role is to speak out on behalf of the children we work with across the UK, sharing insight into their experiences, and always based on evidence from our hundreds of services across the country."

A Government spokesperson said: “The law is clear that charities must exist only to further their charitable purposes. When government provides grant funding to charities, there are strict rules preventing taxpayer money from being used on lobbying or political activity.”