Should indefinite leave to remain be abolished?
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) allows migrants permanent residency with rights to live, work, study and claim benefits in the UK. Reform UK proposes abolishing ILR entirely, rescinding existing grants for non-protected groups, and replacing it with renewable five-year visas requiring higher salaries, English fluency and good character to limit welfare access and save public funds. The Labour government is advancing earned settlement that raises the standard qualifying period from five to ten years with contribution tests, applying to those yet to receive ILR. No changes have been implemented as of September 2026, with final policy due later this year.
5 Opinions
Not only should it be abolished, any temporary leave to remain should be conditional on being a productive member of society, who learns English, works, integrates, and does not commit criminal acts.
Not only MPs, the rest of parasites on public purse too. For sure all electable.
It would be unfair and inhumane to change the rules retrospectively, for people who have made their lives here. But the rules around ILR should be tightened, with a much longer path to citizenship and stricter criteria,
This is absurd. So current residents who have paid into the tax system for 50 years, draws a pension based on their NI contributions, and has never been able to vote even though has ILR via marriage, would effectively be told to get out by some one who probably hasn't contributed anything? Absurd!