Nigel Farage has unveiled a sweeping immigration proposal that would abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) – the main route through which migrants gain British citizenship – a move critics warn could plunge tens of thousands of legally resident families into uncertainty.
The Reform UK leader said the policy would directly target the so-called “Boriswave” – the surge of post-Brexit migrants who arrived under rules introduced by Boris Johnson. Farage described the wave as “the greatest betrayal of democratic wishes in living memory” and accused incoming migrants of becoming “a huge burden on the state.”
Farage claimed that up to 800,000 people, largely young and “low-skilled,” are expected to qualify for ILR in the next three to four years. Under his plan, all those eligible would instead be forced to reapply for visas under tougher conditions, including higher salary thresholds, stricter English-language requirements and reduced family rights.
ILR currently allows people who have lived and worked legally in the UK for five years to apply for permanent residence, with the option to seek citizenship after an additional year. Farage said abolishing the system would save Britain £234 billion, though the figure was discredited by the Centre for Policy Studies, which has withdrawn the report he cited. He insisted the savings estimate was “too low” and understated the financial impact of immigration.
At a tense press conference with Reform’s policy chief Zia Yusuf, Farage refused to detail the exact costs or the groups who would be affected. Yusuf suggested non-EU nationals would face the toughest scrutiny, while EU citizens with settled status would be exempt. However, he hinted at new negotiations with Brussels over welfare entitlements for EU nationals in the UK.
The proposals drew swift criticism from Downing Street, Labour and London mayor Sadiq Khan. A Labour spokesperson accused Farage of “thriving on division” and rolling out “unrealistic, unworkable and unfunded plans,” while a Labour source dismissed his claims about migrants’ reliance on benefits, pointing to government data showing only around 16% of foreign claims come from those with ILR.
Sadiq Khan warned the plans would endanger the rights of thousands of Londoners who have “legal status, are our friends and colleagues, and contribute hugely to our city.”
Farage’s pledge would also lengthen the citizenship process, requiring applicants to wait at least seven years, prove fluent English, and renounce dual nationality. Reports suggest the new income requirement could rise to £60,000 – far above the current £41,700 skilled worker visa threshold – while those on visas would be denied access to the NHS and welfare.
Labour has already set out plans to tighten ILR rules, extending eligibility to 10 years, but stopped short of scrapping the scheme altogether. Farage, meanwhile, doubled down, claiming he was “firmly of the belief” that most future ILR applicants “are not working, have not worked and in all probability will never work.”