By Farah Mokrani

Copyright euroweeklynews

Britain is set to make it harder for migrants to settle permanently, with new rules that would require applicants to prove their value to society before being granted the right to stay for life.

New standards for permanent residency

Currently, most migrants can apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’ after living in Britain for five years. But under proposals unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood at the Labour Party conference, that pathway could soon involve far stricter conditions.

Mahmood said the government is considering changes that would mean migrants must do far more than simply reside in the country for a set number of years. Applicants could be required to:

Demonstrate a ‘high standard’ of English
Prove they have paid social security contributions
Show a clean criminal record
Refrain from claiming benefits
Provide evidence of community volunteering

“Time spent in this country alone is not enough. You must earn the right to live in this country,” Mahmood told delegates, stressing that permanent residency would become a privilege based on contribution rather than just years of residence.

A political backdrop of pressure

The move comes as Labour faces growing pressure from the populist Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, which has surged in opinion polls by placing immigration at the heart of its campaign. Reform has suggested scrapping indefinite leave to remain altogether and replacing it with renewable five-year visas.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has already accused Reform of promoting ‘racist policies’ of mass deportations, though he added he did not consider its supporters racist. Still, the debate has forced Labour to harden its immigration stance as it seeks to avoid being outflanked on one of the most sensitive political issues in Britain.

Mahmood confirmed a public consultation on the proposals will take place later this year. She also reiterated that the government is pressing ahead with plans to extend the baseline qualifying period from five to ten years, meaning some migrants could live in the UK for more than a decade and still be denied permanent status if they fail to meet the new criteria.

Immigration and public opinion

Immigration has long been a dividing line in British politics. Concerns over border control and high arrivals were central to the 2016 Brexit referendum, when voters opted to leave the European Union. Yet despite that, Britain has continued to record high net migration figures since leaving the bloc.

Mahmood insisted that without stricter controls, Britain cannot remain ‘open, tolerant and generous.’ She also pledged she was willing to face criticism if it meant preventing more irregular arrivals, particularly the thousands crossing the Channel in small boats each year.

Critics, including lawyers and immigration campaigners, argue the proposals could discourage skilled workers and families from moving to the UK. Some say requiring evidence of volunteering would be nearly impossible to measure fairly.

Still, the Home Secretary defended the plans as part of a broader effort to restore public trust. “We will have to question some of the assumptions and legal constraints that have lasted for a generation and more,” she told delegates.

For Labour, the gamble is clear: take a harder line on immigration in an attempt to neutralise Reform UK’s appeal – or risk losing ground to a party that has made the issue its rallying cry.

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