UK politics news today: settlement rules decision, interest rate rise expected, young workers' pay
By the Population Decides team. Every story summarised from several outlets, with links to the originals.
Good morning. It is Monday 2 November 2026. The Home Secretary is due to set out her final plans on how long migrants must wait to settle in the UK, the Bank of England is expected to raise interest rates on Thursday, and the government will not say when young workers will get the full adult minimum wage. Here is what happened and what it means for you.
Home Secretary due to give her final decision on how long migrants must wait to settle
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to tell MPs today how long most migrants will have to wait before they can settle permanently in the UK.
Settling permanently is called indefinite leave to remain. Today most people can apply after 5 years. The government has proposed 10 years for most people, and up to 15 years for some lower paid workers. Reports say the Home Secretary may scale back the 15 year wait and spare social care workers already in the UK. More than 200,000 people replied to the consultation.
A new report from the think tank IPPR says skilled migrants and adult family members due to settle under the current 5 year rules will pay around £115 billion more in tax over their lives than they cost. It expects around 287,000 care workers and family members to settle between 2026 and 2030. The Home Office has estimated that care workers and adult family members settling in those years could cost the public finances about £10 billion over their lifetimes.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called settlement "a right to be earned". Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp says the Home Secretary has given in to her own MPs. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his party would scrap indefinite leave to remain altogether. Read our guide to small boats and migration, check where your MP stands and make the call yourself in the game.
Explain it like I'm 15
Most migrants can currently apply to stay in the UK for good after 5 years. The government wants most people to wait longer, and today we should find out exactly how long and who gets exceptions.
The People's Verdict: How long should most migrants wait before they can settle permanently in the UK?
Bank of England expected to raise interest rates for the first time since 2023
Traders expect the Bank of England to raise its main interest rate from 3.75% to 4% on Thursday, which would be the first rise since August 2023.
The Bank Rate affects what banks charge for mortgages and loans and what they pay on savings. The Bank raises it to slow price rises. Inflation, the rate at which prices go up, rose to 3.5% in September, the highest in 11 months, after conflict in the Middle East pushed up petrol and diesel prices. The energy price cap rose 3.6% for a typical home in October and is forecast to rise another 22% in January.
Other figures point the other way. The economy grew just 0.1% in August, and unemployment fell to 4.7%. One City economist said a rise to 4% looks "all but certain". Supporters of a rise say inflation must come back down to the Bank's 2% target. A rise would also make borrowing dearer for many families with mortgages. Read more in our Budget key points and see how your money is affected with the Budget calculator.
Explain it like I'm 15
If the Bank of England raises interest rates, mortgages and loans could cost more, but savers could earn a bit more. The aim is to stop prices rising so fast.
The People's Verdict: What should the Bank of England do with interest rates this week?
Government will not say when young workers will get the full adult minimum wage
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds has declined to promise that 18 to 20 year olds will get the same minimum wage as older workers by the next election, LBC reports.
Labour promised in 2024 to remove the lower age bands. From April 2027 the adult rate, for those aged 21 and over, rises from £12.71 to £13.21 an hour. The rate for 18 to 20 year olds rises from £10.85 to £11.27. Both go up by 3.9%, so the gap between them stays. Young workers' pay rose 8.5% this April.
The Chief Secretary said the government would move "step by step" and must balance jobs against wages. Chancellor John Healey has said the change will come one step at a time. Unions have raised concerns, and critics say Labour is breaking a manifesto promise. Track it on our promises tracker.
Explain it like I'm 15
If you are 18 to 20, the law lets employers pay you less per hour than older workers. Labour promised to end that, but the government will not say when.
The People's Verdict: Should 18 to 20 year olds get the same minimum wage as older workers?
Opposition leader warns a slavery apology would lead to demands for money
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch says a formal apology for Britain's role in the slave trade would open the door to demands for compensation, as the Prime Minister heads to a Commonwealth summit this week.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to a formal apology but has ruled out reparations, which means payments to make up for past wrongs. He will attend the Commonwealth leaders' meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, where the King gives the opening speech on Tuesday. The King is not expected to apologise. Caribbean leaders, led by the Prime Minister of Barbados, launched a plan calling for reparations in June.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said the government is considering a formal apology. Chancellor John Healey said British people today should not be held financially liable. Mrs Badenoch said an apology would be used to push for cash.
Explain it like I'm 15
Some countries want Britain to say sorry for the slave trade, and some want money too. The government might say sorry, and the Conservatives think that would lead to calls for payments.
Nearly 1,000 people cross the Channel in two days after a three week pause
Almost 1,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats on Thursday and Friday, ending a 21 day gap that was the longest without arrivals this year.
Home Office figures show 263 people came in three boats on Thursday and 671 in nine boats on Friday. That takes the total for 2026 to 21,869. The figures suggest this year's total is unlikely to pass last year's, and crossings usually fall in late autumn and winter.
The government says crossings are down a lot, with the fewest summer arrivals since 2020. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Labour is "too weak to stop the boats" and called for the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty that sets out people's rights. See the arguments in our small boats guide.
Explain it like I'm 15
After three weeks with no small boats, almost 1,000 people arrived in two days. This year's total looks set to be lower than last year's, but parties disagree on how to stop the crossings.
Record number of offenders sent back to prison after early release
A record 52,716 offenders were sent back to prison in the year to June for breaking the rules of their release, Ministry of Justice figures show, up 27% on the year before.
Recall means someone let out on licence, with conditions such as meeting a probation officer, is returned to jail for breaking those conditions. To ease overcrowding, the government cut the share of a sentence some prisoners must serve from 50% to 40%. Between September 2024 and June 2026, 79,274 people were freed early. A further 650 are due to be released early on 10 November. Recalls began to fall in early 2026 after a change in the law.
The government says it took decisive action to stop prisons running out of space and that rule breakers must be sent back. The Howard League, a prison reform charity, says the high number of recalls is making overcrowding worse and wants a lasting solution.
Explain it like I'm 15
Prisons are full, so some people are let out earlier. More of them are then being sent back for breaking the rules, which puts prisons under more pressure.
The People's Verdict: What is the best way to deal with full prisons?
Families of people who died from asbestos diseases before they could claim compensation will now get the full award, from 31 October. The government says around 300 families a year will benefit, at a cost of £2 million to £6 million a year.
From 31 October, simple planning applications in England are decided by council officers rather than committees. The government says an AI tool being tested by councils has halved the time for routine home extension decisions from eight weeks to four.