Reform UK proposals end indefinite leave to remain and restrict benefits for migrants

Reform UK on Thursday outlined a sweeping package of immigration and welfare policies that would end the right of most migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain in Britain. The proposal, announced by party leader Nigel Farage at a London press conference, would also bar non-citizens from claiming most benefits and require applicants for UK citizenship to renounce other citizenships, the party said.

Under the plan, indefinite leave to remain would be scrapped for new arrivals after five years of residence, and those who have lived in Britain longer would not automatically gain ILR. Reform argues the changes would channel migration along a more selective path to citizenship and could reduce welfare costs for taxpayers. The policy also states EU citizens with settled status would continue to have access to benefits in Britain.

The plan cites a potential savings figure of about £234 billion, a calculation produced by a think tank that later said the estimate should no longer be used due to methodological issues. Chancellor Rachel Reeves, speaking for the government, said the figures "have no basis in reality" and warned that the reforms could complicate welfare provision and border controls rather than streamline them. Supporters of Reform argued the proposals were needed to restore control over immigration and reduce public spending, while opponents said the plan was not fully developed and impractical to implement.

Conservative Party officials quickly dismissed the proposals as half-baked and unworkable, arguing they would generate friction without solving the underlying challenges. Farage, joined by Reform's immigration spokesperson Zia Yusuf, contended the reforms would mark a decisive shift toward a tighter, more selective approach to citizenship and welfare eligibility. The party emphasized that changes would apply to new entrants and that current protections for those with settled status would be maintained where specified.

The proposals come amid a broader political and policy debate over migration in the United Kingdom, with insiders and analysts cautioning that any significant reform would require careful negotiation with international partners and alignment with domestic welfare and citizenship rules. The discussion has been shaping the conversation around potential elections and the direction of UK immigration policy, drawing attention from voters and pundits alike.

In parallel coverage of the day, the Daily Mail advertised a POLL OF THE DAY inviting readers to weigh in on whether migrants should have the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain, reflecting ongoing public interest in the topic as parties map their positions ahead of any potential electoral contest.