Nigel Farage has ignited a fierce political row after vowing to strip hundreds of thousands of migrants of their right to remain in Britain, even if they arrived legally – so today we’re asking: is he right? The Reform UK leader said he would abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) – the status that allows migrants to stay in the UK permanently after five years – and replace it with a tougher visa system.
Under his plan, those already granted ILR would be forced to reapply every five years, meeting higher salary thresholds and stricter English language tests. Access to benefits would be banned entirely. Reform’s policy chief Zia Yusuf argued that the proposals would save taxpayers more than £230 billion and end what the party has branded the “Boriswave” – the influx of workers who arrived under rules set by Boris Johnson’s Government.
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He claimed businesses would have time to “train British workers to replace them” as migrants lost their settled status.
Critics say the plan amounts to deporting people who came here legally, built lives and families, and contribute to the economy, including many who may have been here for decades.
Employers in sectors already facing shortages warn it could cause major disruption. Migrants’ rights groups have described the proposals as “cruel” and potentially unlawful.
The Government already restricts foreign nationals’ access to welfare, with most having to wait five years before claiming universal credit – a limit ministers are considering extending to 10.
A spokesperson insisted: “People here illegally rightly do not get anything from our benefits system.”
Mr Farage has insisted his policy is about fairness, saying: “Welfare will end for everyone that is not a UK citizen.”
