The UK’s immigration system is set for a major overhaul, with Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch proposing a significant increase in the wait time for migrants to become eligible for British citizenship. Under the new plan, migrants would have to wait 15 years to become citizens, a drastic increase from the current six-year wait time.
Badenoch’s proposal is part of a broader effort to reduce migration and strengthen the requirements for citizenship. The plan includes a number of key reforms, including increasing the wait time for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to 10 years, and requiring migrants to wait an additional five years after securing ILR to become eligible for citizenship.
The proposal also includes measures to restrict access to benefits and social housing for migrants, as well as a ban on citizenship for individuals with a criminal record. Additionally, those who enter the UK illegally or overstay their visa would be banned from ever obtaining leave to remain or a passport.
Badenoch argues that the current immigration system has become a “conveyor belt” to citizenship, placing strain on public services. She emphasizes the need for tighter immigration rules, ensuring that migrants have a “meaningful connection” to the UK and are “net contributors” to the economy.
The proposal has been met with mixed reactions, with some arguing that it is a necessary step to reduce migration and strengthen the requirements for citizenship. Others have expressed concerns that the plan could have unintended consequences, such as driving migrants underground and creating a more vulnerable population.
The Conservative Party plans to backdate the changes to 2021 by amending the upcoming Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. The proposal is part of a broader effort by the party to reduce migration and strengthen the requirements for citizenship.
