Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced tough new rules that will require migrants to earn the right to settle permanently in the UK.
In her first Labour conference speech, Mahmood said indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would no longer depend only on time spent in Britain but also on how much migrants contribute to society.
Under the proposed reforms, migrants will need to pay taxes and national insurance, support themselves without claiming benefits, keep a clean criminal record volunteer or contribute to the community, and speak English to a high standard.
Also, the waiting period for ILR will rise from five to ten years, except for those making significant contributions, such as financially or through charity work.
Migrants who fail to meet the standards could be removed when their visas expire.
Mahmood described the policy as fair, saying, “Legal migration is a good thing. But people must contribute not only by working but also by giving back to society.”
She linked the rules to her own family’s story, noting that her parents, who migrated from Kashmir in the 1960s, worked hard, volunteered, and integrated into their local community.
The plans are Labour’s answer to Reform UK’s proposal to strip ILR from many migrants, which Keir Starmer branded racist and immoral. Reform hit back, accusing Labour of being too soft.
Critics warn the policy risks punishing refugees. The Refugee Council argued that many need benefits temporarily while settling and that stricter rules could block them from building long-term lives in the UK.
Details of the policy was said to go to consultation later this year, with exemptions expected for groups such as Ukrainians and Hong Kongers who entered under special schemes.
