# Who is Britain's perfect immigrant?

> Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood proposes assessing migrants on skills, salary and job type, but the definition of a 'perfect' immigrant differs sharply across government, voters and economists.
- Title: Who is Britain's perfect immigrant? · POLITICO | Shortify
- Summary: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood proposes assessing migrants on skills, salary and job type, but the definition of a 'perfect' immigrant differs sharply across…
- Keywords: shabana mahmood, immigration policy, indefinite leave to remain, home office, sojan joseph, migration observatory, POLITICO
- Source: POLITICO — https://politico.eu/podcast/eu-confidential/who-is-britains-perfect-immigrant
- Published: 2026-11-13T04:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: shabana mahmood, immigration policy, indefinite leave to remain, home office, sojan joseph, migration observatory, politics, world
## Mahmood's new immigration test
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood proposes reforming Britain's immigration policy by assessing migrants on indefinite leave to remain based on their skills, salary and job type.
## Three different views
Westminster Insider host Sascha O'Sullivan explores how the Home Office, voters and economists hold very different perspectives on who Britain sees as its perfect immigrant.
## A care worker's story
Keralan-born Labour MP Sojan Joseph describes coming to the UK as a care worker and navigating British society's various and often contradictory demands for the perfect immigrant.
## Key takeaway

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's new immigration proposals judge migrants by skills, salary and job type, but government, voters and economists hold conflicting views on what makes an ideal immigrant.