UK Immigration has once again become a defining political battleground. Labour and Reform are setting out sharply different visions for the future of settlement rights in Britain, with Labour seeking tougher but contributory pathways to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), while Reform proposes nothing short of scrapping it altogether.
This debate is not just about numbers; it cuts to the heart of who Britain allows to belong permanently.
What is ILR and Why Does It Matter?
Indefinite Leave to Remain is the route through which most long-term migrants make the UK their permanent home. It gives the right to live, work and study in Britain without restriction, and it often acts as a stepping stone towards British citizenship.
At present, applicants can usually apply after five years in the country, provided they meet requirements. ILR also allows family reunion and access to public services, making it one of the most significant stages of a migrant’s journey.
Labour’s Approach: Restriction with Reward
Labour is not abolishing ILR but is making access to it significantly harder. The party has pledged to extend the qualifying period from five years to ten years for most applicants.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has gone further, signalling that ILR will be tied to a “contribution test”. Migrants would need to show that they:
- Are in work and making National Insurance contributions
- Are not reliant on benefits
- Have strong English language skills
- Have no criminal record
- Demonstrate active contribution to the community, for instance through volunteering
Labour has indicated there will be flexibility, with those judged to be making exceptional contributions able to settle earlier, while those failing the test may face longer waits.
Critics, including refugee advocates, argue that such conditions risk penalising the vulnerable, particularly those fleeing persecution who may rely on public support during resettlement. Labour defends the plan as a way to strengthen integration and ensure that settlement is earned, not automatic.
Reform’s Plan: Abolishing ILR
Reform, by contrast, seeks a far more radical overhaul. The party has vowed to abolish ILR entirely, replacing it with a renewable five-year visa.
Key features of Reform’s proposals include:
- Existing ILR holders would lose their status and be required to reapply under new rules
- Salary thresholds raised dramatically to around £60,000 a year, nearly double the UK median wage
- Access to state benefits and many NHS services curtailed
- Much stricter English language requirements
- Heavily reduced rights for family reunion
The effect would be profound. More than 400,000 current ILR holders, many of whom have lived in Britain for decades, would be forced into uncertainty. Reform justifies this as necessary to cut costs and curb what it sees as unsustainable migration, claiming savings of over £200 billion. Opponents say it would destabilise communities, strip rights overnight and create the largest rollback of settled status in modern British history.
Comparing the Two
While both parties are positioning themselves as “tough on immigration,” their approaches are fundamentally different in philosophy and scope:
- Continuity vs rupture: Labour preserves Indefinite Leave to Remain but tightens the rules; Reform seeks to eliminate it altogether.
- Criteria: Labour links settlement to social and economic contribution, with an emphasis on work and integration; Reform sets extreme salary and language barriers, effectively reserving long-term residency for a small, highly paid minority.
- Integration vs exclusion: Labour frames its plan as rewarding contribution and strengthening community ties. Reform explicitly aims to reduce numbers, with little concern for integration or stability for those already here.
Conclusion
The contrast between Labour and Reform on ILR is stark. Labour is recalibrating settlement policy, demanding more from migrants but ultimately leaving the principle of permanent status intact. Reform, however, seeks to dismantle that principle altogether, replacing permanence with a precarious system of temporary permission.
For migrants and their families, the stakes could not be higher. One vision still allows for a pathway to belonging though narrower and more conditional than before. The other risks turning long-term residents into perpetual outsiders, without the certainty of ever calling Britain home.
With over 20 years of experience and a commitment to excellence, Morgan Smith Immigration is your trusted partner for all your immigration needs. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you with UK Visa Applications. For any enquiries or assistance, call us at 0203 959 3335 or email [email protected].
