Nigel Farage has unveiled a plan to tighten regulations on migrants’ rights and benefits claims. The leader of Reform UK proposed eliminating indefinite leave to remain if his party, currently with 5 MPs, comes into power.
Farage stated that under the relaxed post-Brexit rules introduced by Boris Johnson’s government, known as the “Boriswave,” hundreds of thousands of migrants would soon be eligible for permanent residence. Reform UK predicts that from 2026 to 2030, approximately 800,000 new migrants could obtain indefinite leave to remain. However, critics quickly dismissed the plan as lacking credibility, with doubts emerging shortly after its announcement.
Indefinite leave to remain is a crucial pathway to citizenship, requiring migrants to reside and work in the UK for at least five years. This status grants migrants the freedom to work, study, and live in the UK indefinitely, with the option to apply for citizenship and access certain benefits if eligible.
Reform UK intends to scrap indefinite leave to remain, proposing a system where individuals must apply for renewable visas lasting five years. The new visas would have higher salary requirements, stricter English language proficiency standards, and prohibit recipients from claiming benefits.
Farage clarified that existing UK citizenship statuses would not be retroactively altered, emphasizing that once citizenship is granted, it remains unchanged. He highlighted the potential savings for UK taxpayers, estimating over £230 billion by restricting migrants’ access to benefits.
Despite the controversial figures, Farage defended the projected savings during a press briefing, although no evidence was provided. He emphasized that only UK citizens would be entitled to welfare benefits, excluding foreign nationals.
Reform UK’s policy chief mentioned that the salary threshold for the proposed new visas would significantly differ, but specifics on the threshold are pending clarification closer to the upcoming general election.
Concerns linger regarding the impact on public services like the NHS and the care sector, heavily reliant on migrant workers. The party’s policy head mentioned a specialized visa for care workers facing acute skills shortages, emphasizing a capped system to prevent exploitation and requiring employers to fund British worker training programs. Details on the visa cap and employer costs remain unspecified.