Mrs Kemi Badenoch, the Nigerian-born leader of the Conservative Party, is hardening her anti-immigration stance with a new proposal to extend the wait time for an immigrant to get British citizenship.
In a video posted on her X account, Badenoch outlined plans to increase the period before migrants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to ten years.
Then, another five years for successful ILR applicants to be eligible for citizenship, bringing it to a total of 15 years.
“I want to reduce immigration and make living here actually mean something.
“If you want to stay in our country permanently, the time you have to live here before applying for ILR would increase from five to ten years,” she said.
More Strict Path to Citizenship
Not only that, Badenoch’s proposal includes other strict new conditions:
Migrants who rely on welfare support or social housing will be ineligible for permanent settlement.
Individuals with a criminal record will be permanently barred from obtaining citizenship.
READ ALSO | Kemi Badenoch Vows to Crack Down on Immigration Into The UK If Elected PM
Anyone entering the UK illegally or overstaying their visa will never be allowed to apply for leave to remain or a passport.
The UK’s current immigration rules allow migrants to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years, and citizenship 12 months later. However, Badenoch’s proposed plan would triple the minimum period to 15 years.
I said last year that the Conservatives will come forward with a plan to fix our immigration system. Today I’ve announced the first part: that living here has to mean something.
— Kemi Badenoch (@KemiBadenoch) February 6, 2025
That means making bold changes to who we allow to live in Britain, and how they apply.
Let’s break… pic.twitter.com/AeETfO3XeR
The Conservative Party plans to implement these changes retroactively to 2021 through amendments to the upcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill.
Badenoch defended the stricter approach, describing the current system as a “conveyor belt” to citizenship that overburdens public services.
She wants newcomers to have a genuine connection with the UK, contribute positively to the economy, and care for local communities before they could potentially be considered for citizenship.
“We need to ensure that people coming here have a meaningful connection to the UK, are net contributors to the economy, and genuinely care about our communities.“
Mixed Reactions
Ms Badenoch’s proposals have received mixed reactions. One comment @hackSultan on X wrote, “Let me tell you what the future will look like if this happens. The best immigrant talents will leave, and even the future ones will no longer come over, everyone will go to countries with favourable conditions.”
And @SlickRule asked, “Immigration, Immigration, Immigration. Other countries are leaving the UK behind in terms of technological advancement, and Immigration is the only thing you keep putting forward.”
Yet the Conservative leader received some praise. But Mrs Badenoch will have no chance to implement her policy unless the British people give them the mandate in another 4 years’ time. The last UK general election was on July 4, 2024, and won by Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.
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