SHABANA Mahmood’s immigration crackdown is set to be watered down amid fears of a huge Labour rebellion.
The Home Secretary wants to double the wait for permanent residency from five to ten years.
Some lower-paid migrants would have to wait 15 years for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
But proposals to apply the changes retrospectively face being softened with Housing Secretary Angela Rayner already calling the plan “un-British”.
The Sun understands that Government whips have been scrambling to head-off a revolt by sounding out Labour MPs.
Opposition is thought to stretch well beyond the 100 who signed a protest letter, with others unwilling or unable to put their names to it.
A Government source said: “The PM is tougher on migration than many people think but on ILR there’s a clear direction of travel. It will now be more surprising if we stick with the proposals.”
About 1.6million migrants from the “Boriswave” are forecast to qualify between now and 2030, including hundreds of thousands of lower-paid workers and their dependants.
Permanent residency opens the door to claiming benefits.
Ms Mahmood herself has admitted this will cost taxpayers £10billion for low-wage care workers alone.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused her of preparing to “surrender to the open- borders Left, led by Angela Rayner”.
Talks are going down to the wire.
A Government source said: “It’s a stand-off between the Treasury and the Home Office.”
PM’s 9k boat toll
MORE than 9,000 small boat migrants have now illegally crossed the Channel since Andy Burnham became PM.
Statistics show 9,229 have made the perilous journey since July 20, with 500 believed to have arrived last Friday.
It comes as a video showed a knife-wielding man shouting, “I will kill you” trying to board a dinghy heading for the UK from Hardelot, near Boulogne in France.
So far this year 21,198 have crossed, 43 per cent down on this time last year.