Hundreds of thousands of migrants will be forced out of the UK if Reform wins the next election, Nigel Farage has declared – and insisted the move will save taxpayers more than £230billion.
The party’s leader has vowed to end what he called the ‘scam’ of legal permanent settlement for foreign nationals, and warned that not tackling it is a ‘fiscal timebomb’ which could bankrupt the country.
Writing in the Daily Mail he promises to abolish the status known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which allows those who have lived here for more than five years to receive benefits and apply for citizenship.
Reform estimates 3.8million migrants who arrived after the pandemic will be eligible for ILR between 2026 and 2030, and claims many are either destined for a life on benefits or are low-skilled workers who will bring in dependants to join them.
By preventing them from remaining in the UK, Mr Farage insisted it will save £234billion over their lifetimes which would otherwise be claimed in benefits.
Under his plan, no new ILR awards would be made and migrants already allowed to live here under ILR – so-called settled status – would have it rescinded.
Mr Farage proposes that migrants living here would instead have to apply for a five-year renewable visa with stricter criteria, such as proving they can speak English and can earn a high salary, and would face restrictions on how many dependants could join them.
Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage has vowed to end what he called the ‘scam’ of legal permanent settlement for foreign nationals
Those rejected would lose state benefits and be expected to leave voluntarily or face removal under the party’s tough plan for tackling illegal migration, known as Operation Restoring Justice.
Reform’s policy document, to be published on Monday, states that the changes ‘will be done on a staggered and orderly basis to allow businesses to train British workers to replace them’. Reform said it is giving notice that ‘the era of cheap foreign labour is over’.
Mr Farage has also vowed that only UK citizens will be eligible for welfare. The qualifying period for citizenship – which is currently one year after being granted ‘settled status’ – would also be extended to prevent it being given ‘cheaply’.
Mr Farage said: ‘The Tories and Labour have turned the UK into a foodbank for the world.’
