Nigel Farage has unveiled a plan to tighten restrictions on migrants’ rights and welfare benefits. The Reform UK leader proposed eliminating indefinite leave to remain for migrants if his party, which currently has 5 MPs, comes into power.
Under the “Boriswave” initiated by Boris Johnson’s government, migrants who arrived in the UK under relaxed post-Brexit regulations will soon qualify for permanent residency, with an estimated 800,000 new migrants expected to gain indefinite leave to remain between 2026 and 2030. Critics have swiftly criticized the proposal, stating it lacks feasibility just hours after its announcement.
Indefinite leave to remain is a key pathway to citizenship, requiring migrants to have lived and worked in the UK for five years. It grants them the right to work, reside, and study in the UK indefinitely, with the option to apply for citizenship and access certain benefits.
Reform UK intends to scrap indefinite leave to remain and introduce renewable visas lasting five years with higher salary thresholds, stricter English language requirements, and a ban on benefit claims for eligible individuals. Farage clarified that there would be no retroactive changes to UK citizenship status, emphasizing that once granted, citizenship remains unaffected.
Farage claims that the proposed changes could save UK taxpayers over £230 billion, although this figure, based on a report from the Centre of Policy Studies, has been disputed by the think-tank itself. Despite the controversy over the savings figure, Farage reiterated the projected cost reductions during a recent press conference without offering substantial evidence.
Reform UK’s policy chief mentioned that the salary threshold for the new visas will differ significantly, but details on the exact threshold will be disclosed closer to the upcoming general election. Questions linger regarding the impact on public services like the NHS and the care sector, which heavily rely on migrant workers. In response, Yusuf mentioned that care workers would fall under a designated ‘acute skills shortage visa,’ but specifics on the cap and employer costs remain unspecified.