Britain May Toughen Rules for Migrants Seeking Permanent Residency

• The United Kingdom’s (UK) government is considering stricter criteria for permanent residency, reflecting growing political pressure to curb immigration while balancing economic needs. Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood is set to announce at the Labour Party conference that permanent settlement may no longer be automatic after five years of residency.
• Instead, migrants could be required to prove their value to society by paying social security contributions, demonstrating strong English proficiency, maintaining a clean criminal record, and even showing evidence of community service.
• The government is also considering only allowing people to qualify if they can speak English to a high standard and have a record of volunteering in their communities, Mahmood will say, according to extracts of her speech released by Labour. A consultation on the proposals will be launched later this year.
• The move comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government faces mounting pressure from Reform UK, a populist party making immigration its central platform. Reform’s recent surge in opinion polls has forced Labour to toughen its stance, even though the party traditionally takes a more liberal view of migration.
• Nigel Farage's anti-immigration Reform UK, which is leading in opinion polls, said last week it was considering scrapping "indefinite leave to remain", and replacing it with a five-year renewable work visa. Starmer accused Reform on Sunday of planning a "racist policy" of mass deportations that would "tear this country apart".
• Immigration remains one of the most divisive issues in British politics. The Brexit referendum in 2016 was largely driven by demands to “take back control” of borders, yet net arrivals have hit record highs since leaving the European Union. By floating new restrictions on permanent residency, Labour hopes to blunt Reform UK’s influence while showing voters it is serious about addressing concerns over integration and social cohesion.

(Sources: Modern Diplomacy & Reuters)