The UK government is considering tightening permanent residency regulations for immigrants.
Home Secretary Mahmood will make an announcement about this at the Labour Party Conference on the 29th. This will also be Mahmood’s first speech at a Labour Party Conference in his capacity as Home Secretary.
According to excerpts of Mahmood’s speech released in advance by the Labour Party, the UK government is considering introducing changes specifying that only those who have paid social security contributions, have no criminal record, and have not applied for welfare are eligible for permanent residency status.
Mahmood also mentioned that the government is considering allowing only immigrants with a high level of English proficiency and a record of volunteer service in the community to become permanent residents. Consultations on these proposals will be launched later this year.
Currently, most immigrants are eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years of residence in the UK, a status that confers the right to live in the UK permanently.
To counter the growing support for the Reform UK party, the Labour government led by Prime Minister Starmer is compelled to tighten immigration policies. Reform UK, which leads the debate on immigration issues, remains ahead in the polls.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage pointed out last week that the party is considering proposing the abolition of indefinite leave to remain, and replacing it with a renewable five-year work visa.