LONDON — Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has unveiled a sweeping and controversial immigration plan that would abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) within 100 days of a Reform government taking office and trigger the deportation of hundreds of thousands of migrants currently living legally in Britain. Farage described the proposal as an unprecedented reversal of Britain’s “relaxed border rules” introduced after Brexit, arguing that the country’s welfare system and public services face a “catastrophic” strain if current trends continue.
The announcement comes amid escalating political debate over migration and a recent U.S. President Donald Trump comment urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to consider military measures to control Britain’s borders, pressure that has added intensity to a debate already reshaped by post-Brexit migration surges.
According to UK Telegraph, Under Reform’s proposal, all permanent residents would have to reapply for visas under much stricter requirements. These include higher salary thresholds, more rigorous English-language proficiency standards, and an expanded waiting period, seven years before becoming eligible for a British passport. The plan also bans access to welfare benefits and NHS services for non-citizens, which Reform says would save £234 billion over the lifetime of an average migrant.
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Writing in The Telegraph, Reform policy chief Zia Yusuf called the existing system “a scam on the British people” and said “hundreds of thousands” of people would lose their settled status. To avoid economic shocks, he said, the process would be staggered so businesses could train British workers to replace departing foreign staff. Those unwilling to leave voluntarily, Yusuf warned, would be subject to “Operation Restoring Justice,” a mass deportation programme.
The policy targets what Farage labels the “Boriswave” the estimated 3.8 million people admitted to the UK under former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit immigration rules. Around 800,000 of those migrants are expected to become eligible for ILR starting in January. Reform argues that granting permanent status will saddle taxpayers with costs exceeding four times the UK’s defence budget.
Farage sharply criticized both the Conservatives and Labour, accusing them of “rolling out the red carpet for mass unskilled immigration” and betraying British workers. “Britain cannot sustain the scale of inward migration witnessed since Brexit,” he is expected to say in an upcoming speech. “The era of cheap foreign labour is over.”
The Reform UK campaign launch follows a major right-wing rally in London, where approximately 100,000 protesters, led by activist Tommy Robinson, marched against migration policies. Farage’s move is also a direct challenge to Starmer’s “one in, one out” migration deal with France, which has so far resulted in only three deportations, fueling criticism of government effectiveness.
Reform’s proposal includes creating an Acute Skills Shortage Visa (ASSV) for critical sectors, requiring employers sponsoring such visas to fund training for British workers. Wealthy entrepreneurs would still be eligible for “golden visas” tied to investments in the UK economy.
The Government has yet to respond formally, but a spokesperson noted that foreign nationals already face restrictions on benefits and said ministers are considering increasing the minimum residency requirement for Universal Credit claims from five to ten years.
Political analysts say Farage’s plan is likely to face fierce legal and economic challenges, particularly from businesses dependent on migrant labour and human rights advocates. But Reform, currently leading national polls by more than 12 points, is betting that public frustration with migration levels will propel it to greater influence.
