Contribute or leave: UK to tighten migrant rules; what we know

Britain’s interior minister, Shabana Mahmood , proposed tough new rules on Monday for migrants seeking to settle permanently in the UK, as the ruling Labour party sought to strengthen its position against the rising popularity of the hard-right, anti-immigrant Reform UK party at its annual conference in Liverpool.

Under the plans, migrants looking to obtain indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would be required to have a job, refrain from claiming benefits, contribute to social security, maintain a clean criminal record, volunteer in their communities, and demonstrate proficiency in English. The government plans to consult on the changes later this year.

Currently, migrants with British family members who have lived in the UK for five years—or those legally residing on any visa for ten years—qualify for ILR, which grants permanent residence, the right to work, study, access benefits, and apply for citizenship.

The new rules mark a major policy shift. Mahmood would have emphasized that ILR must “be earned," as reported by AFP.


Meanwhile, a government source, quoted by Telegraph UK said: “Some, based on their contribution or skills, could earn earlier settlement. Others, who have made a lesser contribution, will only earn leave to remain later, or not at all.” Mahmood added: “I am looking at how to make sure that settlement in our country – long-term settlement, indefinite leave to remain – is linked not just to the job you are doing, the salary you get, the taxes you pay, [but] also the wider contribution you are making to our communities.”

The announcement comes in direct response to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s plan, which would abolish ILR and require migrants to reapply for visas every five years, affecting hundreds of thousands of non-EU citizens already holding permanent residency. Labour described Farage’s proposal as a threat to workers who have contributed to the country for decades.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Reform’s proposal on Sunday, calling it “racist” and “immoral,” warning it would “tear the country apart” by targeting migrants lawfully working in hospitals, schools, or running businesses. “It is one thing to say we’re going to remove illegal migrants… I’m up for that. It is a completely different thing to say we are going to reach in to people who are lawfully here and start removing them. They are our neighbours,” he had said.

Labour’s conference focus

Mahmood, delivering her first speech as interior minister, will stress the need for migrants to learn English to a high standard and pledge to be a “tough” minister. She warned that failing to address irregular migration risks pushing working people toward the “false promises” of Farage.

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves , speaking at the conference, highlighted economic resilience and youth employment, noting that young people who refuse a job after 18 months on benefits could lose state support. Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper stressed that the next general election, due in 2029, will present voters with a choice between Labour and a “chaotic right-wing ideology.”

Migration and Channel crossings
More than 100 organisations have urged Mahmood to “end the scapegoating of migrants and performative policies that only cause harm.” UK and French authorities continue to struggle to manage migrants crossing the Channel by small boats, with 32,000 arrivals so far this year. Some 895 people reached the UK on Saturday alone, including a record 125 crammed onto a single vessel. At least 27 deaths have been reported from illegal crossings since the start of the year.

Labour officials framed the new ILR measures as a way to clearly differentiate their policies from those of Reform UK while addressing voter concerns over immigration and social cohesion.