214,000 migrants have been let into the UK under a scheme that shut five years ago with Shabana Mahmood knowing the loop hole still exists but she chooses to keep it open.

The EU Settlement Scheme was set up to offer EU citizens the chance to live here after Britain left the EU in December 2020. It was officially closed on June 30, 2021.

The Home Office accepts 'late applications' and since that date 160,000 have won settled status here, with 54,000 family members joining them, bringing the total to 214,000.

The number of applications is rising and non-EU citizens are applying as 'partners' of settled EU nationals. More than 50,000 visas have gone to Indians with many said to be 'sham' relationships.