Shabana Mahmood: ‘We will deport immigrants unless they earn their right to be British’
Home Secretary will overhaul British immigration laws to make it tougher for migrants
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce a significant overhaul of the UK's immigration system, making it tougher for migrants to gain British citizenship.
- Under the proposed changes, migrants seeking indefinite leave to remain will need to demonstrate high English proficiency, a clean criminal record, volunteer work, employment, National Insurance contributions, and must not have claimed benefits.
- The announcement comes as Labour aims to present a tough stance on migration, contrasting with Nigel Farage's controversial proposal to abolish indefinite leave to remain, which Keir Starmer labelled "racist" and "immoral."
- Critics, including the Refugee Council and Praxis, have condemned the plans, arguing they risk "punishing refugees" and creating a "two-tier society" by erecting more barriers to integration.
- A consultation on these changes is expected later this year, with previous proposals including an increase in the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years.