Farage vows to axe indefinite leave to remain and ban migrants’ benefits access
Reform UK to force settled migrants to reapply for visas
- Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has announced plans to overhaul the UK's immigration system, including ending the right to permanent residency after five years.
- The party proposes abolishing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and forcing existing settled migrants to reapply for a new, stricter visa every five years.
- Under the new rules, migrants would need to reside in the UK for seven years, meet higher salary and English language requirements, and face tighter restrictions on family reunification.
- Reform UK claims these changes, which would also prevent non-UK citizens from accessing welfare, would save the taxpayer £234 billion.
- However, a Labour source disputed the savings figure, saying that it is based on an estimate that has since been disowned by the Centre for Policy Studies think tank.