Burnham steps back from past calls to end immigration benefits restriction

No recourse to public funds (NRPF) has prevented people moving to the UK from accessing benefits or public housing before settled status is granted. The rule can contribute to homelessness when people lose jobs or face other setbacks, leaving them ineligible for official support and often resulting in rough sleeping. Andy Burnham previously called for abolishing NRPF, including in 2019 and through a 2023 joint letter urging action to stop homelessness linked to the closure of bridging hotels. Burnham’s allies say he now supports immigration changes proposed by Shabana Mahmood, while a spokesperson emphasizes the need for both control and compassion in immigration reform.

"As Greater Manchester mayor, Burnham has called several times for an end to the rule known as no recourse to public funds (NRPF), which since 1999 has prevented people moving to the UK getting access to benefits or public housing before they are granted settled status. The system can be a significant driver of homelessness, as those who lose their job or suffer another setback are ineligible for any official support, and can often end up sleeping rough."

"In 2023, Burnham signed a joint letter with the mayors of every Greater Manchester borough, urging the then-Conservative government to take action to stop a surge in homelessness due to the planned closure of so-called bridging hotels, temporary accommodation used mainly to help resettled Afghan nationals. The letter, among its wider demands to help end rough sleeping, asked for the NRPF rules to be changed so that non-UK nationals in this situation who faced homelessness would be given at least a minimum safety net."

"In 2019, in a statement on his mayoral website calling for more efforts to combat homelessness, Burnham said one response should be to abolish the no recourse to public funds policy. A spokesperson for Burnham said: Andy's been very clear that he recognises that towns across this country want an immigration system to be fair and they want to know that the government has control and it is right to pursue root and branch reform."

"He strongly believes we need control as well as compassion. Britain has always welcomed those who come here and contribute and Greater Manchester is testament to that. It is understood that if he wins the byelection and subsequently replaces Keir Starmer as prime minister, Burnham will re-examine such policies and how b"

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