Farage vows to end settled status and restrict welfare to UK citizens

In Westminster on Monday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage unveiled a policy package that would end the current system of settled status for foreign nationals and overhaul how long and under what conditions migrants can live, work and access benefits in the United Kingdom. He argued that indefinite leave to remain should be scrapped, and that welfare should be reserved for UK citizens, framing the issue as a test of national self-sufficiency and public service resilience. The plan is presented as part of a broader push to curb what his campaign has described as a cycle of high migration that he says weighs on public services and the labor market. Farage asserted that the era of cheap foreign labor is over and positioned the reforms as a fiscal and social reset ahead of upcoming political debates.

Under the plan, no new ILR awards would be issued and migrants already living in Britain under what is called settled status would have their status rescinded. Those who have resided here for five years would be required to apply for a new five-year renewable visa, with stricter criteria such as proving English language ability and meeting a higher salary threshold. Dependants would be capped, and individuals who fail to meet the criteria would lose access to state benefits and be expected to leave voluntarily or be subject to removal under Reform UK’s enforcement framework, described by the party as Operation Restoring Justice. The policy document says the changes will be implemented on a staggered and orderly basis to allow businesses time to train British workers to replace foreign labor. Reform also declared that the era of cheap foreign labor is over and signaled a comprehensive shift in migration policy.

In addition to the ILR overhaul, Reform would restrict welfare eligibility to UK citizens. The path to citizenship would also be tightened; Farage said that the current one-year period after being granted settled status would be extended, making it harder to obtain citizenship quickly and at low cost. The party argues that these steps are necessary to align immigration with public service capacity and domestic workforce needs. Supporters say the changes would reduce fiscal strain and shift incentives toward British employment, while critics warn of possible gaps in social protection or negative effects on sectors reliant on migrant labor, including health and social care.

The policy package has drawn reaction from think tanks and budget authorities. The Centre for Policy Studies, which helped popularize the ILR cost estimate cited by Reform, subsequently withdrew the figure as it noted changes in fiscal definitions pushed by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The CPS said it would publish an updated estimate in due course and stressed that the revision does not alter its underlying analysis of visa flows and the likely number of people eligible for ILR on different routes. Critics have highlighted potential NHS implications if large numbers of lower-paid migrants are removed or prevented from remaining, arguing that workforce gaps could widen without alternative staffing plans. Observers say the proposal intensifies a long-running political debate about immigration, welfare eligibility and how best to balance border controls with labor-market needs.

Farage announced the package at a Westminster press conference and framed Reform’s policy as a reset of UK migration policy. The plan arrives amid ongoing partisan debates over immigration, public services funding, and labor supply, with no clear consensus on how any of these changes would be enacted within the current political framework. If pursued, the reforms would require legislative action and face significant scrutiny from opposition parties, business groups, and public-services stakeholders who say transitions must consider practical implications for care sectors, education, housing, and regional labor markets.