Nigel Farage’s reform UK party has pledged to get rid of one of the main avenues for immigrants to gain British citizenship
The political party has set its sights on young, low-skilled workers who are potentially due to qualify for indefinite leave to remain in the UK in the near term alleging that the group would become a burden on the state. Indefinite leave to remain is open to persons who have lived and worked in the UK legally for five years and their dependents. Persons can apply for British citizenship one year after they qualify for indefinite leave to remain.
Under the proposed policy, persons with indefinite leave to remain (with the exception of EU citizens who have been granted settled status in the UK) would have it rescinded and would need to apply for a visa. It is not clear whether the policy would apply to Ukrainians and Hongkongers who entered the UK under dedicated visa routes for refugees.
As an alternative to granting indefinite leave to remain, Reform UK would make non-UK citizens apply for visas with new high salary thresholds which are yet to be determined. The visas would not enable holders to have access to NHS services or public policy benefits, would require advanced English language competency and implement strict limits on whether spouses or other family members could join the visa holder. The changes would also mean that those applying for citizenship would have to wait for a minimum of seven years to do so and renounce citizenship of any other country.
The proposals have been refuted as unrealistic, unworkable and lacking in credibility.
