Rita Odafe
Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader, has introduced a proposal that requires immigrants to wait a minimum of 15 years before they can be considered for British citizenship.
This initiative marks her first significant move as the leader of the Tories, aiming to strengthen immigration regulations by increasing the timeframe for migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five years to ten years.
She also stated that individuals who utilize welfare services, reside in social housing, or have criminal histories would be ineligible for permanent residency in the UK.
“The privilege of citizenship and permanent residency should be granted exclusively to those who show genuine dedication to the UK,” Badenoch expressed, as reported by the BBC.
Currently, most migrants may apply for ILR after five years of employment in the UK, with certain visa holders qualifying in just two or three years. ILR allows individuals to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely, and after a year, they can submit an application for British citizenship.
The new Conservative strategy would extend the ILR waiting period to ten years, followed by an additional five-year period before candidates can apply for citizenship, thus extending the minimum processing time from six to 15 years.
The party aims to implement these modifications starting from 2021 through amendments to the forthcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which is scheduled for discussion in parliament next week.
Badenoch’s proposal also includes tighter restrictions on welfare access for immigrants.
While most migrants on work permits, asylum seekers, and undocumented individuals cannot claim state benefits due to the “no recourse to public funds” rule, some have had this restriction lifted.
Badenoch criticized the existing system for enabling too many individuals to acquire citizenship too rapidly, thereby putting pressure on public resources.
“We must ensure that those coming to our country have a significant connection to the UK—no criminal backgrounds, they should contribute to the economy without depending on welfare, and be individuals who truly care about our nation and communities,” she further noted.
However, she did not specify the projected reduction in migration numbers that this policy would bring.
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