Reform UK proposes ending indefinite leave to remain and barring migrants from benefits

Reform UK on Monday unveiled a broad package of immigration and welfare reforms that would abolish indefinite leave to remain, ban non-British citizens from claiming benefits, and require applicants for UK citizenship to renounce other nationalities. The party said the changes would simplify the system and reduce welfare use, arguing that current rules create a pathway to benefits for migrants after staying in the country for five years. Indefinite leave to remain, or ILR, presently allows people who have lived in Britain for more than five years to apply for citizenship and to claim certain benefits as part of the welfare safety net. Reform said the reforms would preserve a route to citizenship while ending the ILR device, and would keep EU citizens with settled status eligible for benefits in Britain while tightening rules for others.

Under the proposals, the ILR pathway would be scrapped, with the five-year threshold no longer resulting in a direct route to permanent status. The plan would instead tie long-term residence more directly to eventual citizenship, while insisting that anyone applying for UK citizenship must renounce other nationalities. The policy would also bar non-citizens from claiming benefits, including housing or welfare supports, even as the government would continue to allow those with settled status from the European Union to access certain benefits.

The plan carries a stated aim of reducing welfare dependency and pulling migrants out of entitlement-based channels. Reform said the changes could save substantial public funds, but the figure of £234 billion was immediately challenged by critics and the think tank that produced the estimate said its methodology should no longer be used. The party cited the figure as part of its cost-saving argument, while the think tank clarified that its projection should not be treated as a reliable forecast moving forward.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves rejected the claim, saying the figures underpinning Reform’s plan “have no basis in reality.” She argued that the numbers were not credible and warned that the proposals could harm legitimate migrants and the economy. Conservative MPs and ministers echoed the criticism, branding the policies as half-baked and unworkable and saying they would create a patchwork of rules that would be difficult to administer and prone to litigation.

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, presented the package at a London press conference yesterday, flanked by party adviser Zia Yusuf. The pair sought to frame the plan as a responsible reform of immigration and welfare that would end what they describe as open-ended entitlement while offering a clear path to citizenship for those who meet strict criteria. Critics noted that the plan would represent a dramatic shift from post-Brexit policy and would require significant legislative changes, with some arguing that the proposals would create complexity and potential hardship for migrants.

The policy comes as the Daily Mail published a poll of the day asking: Should migrants get the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain? The outlet said final results would be announced tomorrow, reflecting ongoing public interest in the issue. Previous polls have shown divided opinion on migration and welfare, illustrating the political sensitivity of Reform’s proposals as parties prepare for upcoming electoral pressure.

EU citizens who hold settled status would maintain access to certain benefits under Reform’s plan, a point the party highlighted to counter claims that its reforms would cut off support for all migrants. Supporters of Reform argue the changes would end outdated and duplicative channels, while opponents warn of potential legal challenges and the risk of harming families who have built lives in Britain.

As the debate unfolds, economists and policy researchers will scrutinize the assumptions behind the proposed savings and the practical implications of scrapping ILR, renouncing other citizenships, and restricting benefit access. In Westminster and in political circles beyond Britain, the proposals have already sparked questions about how such changes would interact with international obligations, human rights standards, and the broader effects on labor markets and social cohesion. The coming weeks are expected to see a flurry of assessments, counter-proposals, and parliamentary questions as lawmakers weigh the potential impact of Reform UK’s immigration and welfare blueprint.

World news desks will monitor how the plan resonates with voters and how it could influence the broader debate over migration policy in Britain and in comparable economies around the world.