Nigel Farage’s recent initiative to limit migrants’ ability to seek permanent residency has hit a snag due to an error regarding savings calculations. The Reform UK leader proposed eliminating indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and replacing it with a system where migrants would need to renew their visas every five years if his party comes into power. The new requirements would include a higher salary threshold, improved English proficiency, a seven-year residency period in the UK, stricter regulations on bringing family members, and no access to benefits.
Farage and Reform’s policy head, Zia Yusuf, claimed that the proposed changes would save taxpayers over £230 billion, but the figures were based on a report from the Centre of Policy Studies, which the think tank has disavowed.
Labour representatives criticized Reform UK’s plan, calling it flawed and lacking credibility. They accused the party of promoting division rather than addressing national issues. Keir Starmer’s spokesperson emphasized the importance of national unity and criticized Reform UK for proposing unrealistic and unfeasible plans.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also cast doubt on the financial projections of Reform UK, stating that the claimed savings were already unraveling. She highlighted the government’s efforts to reduce illegal migration and improve the welfare system, dismissing Reform UK’s proposals as unrealistic and detached from reality.
In response, Mr. Farage defended his party’s stance, emphasizing the need to prioritize welfare for UK citizens and criticizing the government’s handling of the situation. A government spokesperson clarified that individuals residing illegally in the UK do not receive benefits, and they are exploring extending the waiting period for foreign nationals to access Universal Credit to ten years.
Reform UK countered by asserting that the actual fiscal impact of the proposed changes would be higher than estimated due to factors like varying ILR uptake rates among different migrant cohorts. They argued that migrants from certain regions might have a higher propensity to seek ILR, leading to increased costs beyond initial projections.