THE Conservatives have unveiled their first major policy under Kemi Badenoch's leadership – targeting immigration concerns in a bid to see off a surge in support for Nigel Farage's Reform UK.
Badenoch has said that people who have moved to the UK should have to wait at least 15 years before they become eligible for British citizenship.
As it stands, people must live in the UK for five years before they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). After having ILR for 12 months, they can apply for citizenship.
As well as calling for the amount of time immigrants must live in the UK before they are eligible for ILR to be doubled from five years to 10, the Conservatives said those with ILR should have to wait five years rather than one before they could apply for citizenship.
The Conservatives also called for new conditions to be imposed on anyone applying for ILR. This would include applicants having to show they had never claimed benefits or used social housing, had no criminal record, and would be a “net contributor” to the UK economy.
Most work visas come with a “no recourse to public funds” condition, preventing immigrants with those visas from claiming benefits or using social housing, and in many cases a criminal record will delay or prevent someone receiving ILR.
Arguing that citizenship should only go to people who have shown “a real commitment” to Britain, Tory leader Badenoch urged the UK Government to make it harder for immigrants to secure permanent residency or a British passport.
“The pace of immigration has been too quick and the numbers coming too high for meaningful integration. We need to slow down the track for citizenship. A UK passport should be a privilege not an automatic right.”
In an interview with the BBC, Badenoch declined to put a figure on how much her proposal would cut immigration by, saying only it was “the right thing to do”.
During the Tory leadership contest, Badenoch refused to outline any policies she would implement. Reports said the Conservative shadow cabinet was last week told that she would not reveal any policies until 2027.
The policy announcement comes as the Conservatives attempt to rebuild their support with a tough message on immigration. Recent polling has show Reform UK pulling ahead.
It also comes as Parliament prepares to debate the Government’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill next week, which the Conservatives said should be amended to include their proposals.
Angela Eagle, Labour's Minister for Border Security, said the Conservatives had “lost control of our borders” during their 14 years in power.
She said: “After 14 years of shameful Tory failure no one will take seriously anything they claim or promise now.
“Many of the things they are saying already exist or are the reversal of policies they introduced themselves in recent years, a sign of how chaotic they are.
“They had 14 years to get a grip of the system and instead they created chaos which Labour is now clearing up.”
