Britain plans tougher residency rules for migrants, says Mahmood

Britain will consider tightening the rules on permanent settlement for migrants by requiring them to prove their value to society, interior minister Shabana Mahmood will say on Monday.

In her first speech to the Labour Party conference as interior minister, Shabana Mahmood will announce that the government is examining new conditions for obtaining "indefinite leave to remain," - legal status that grants migrants the right to live permanently in Britain. At present, most migrants can apply for this status after five years of residency.

According to extracts of her speech released by Labour, Mahmood will say the government is weighing changes so that applicants must pay social security contributions, have a clean criminal record, and not claim benefits. She will add that further requirements under consideration include proving a high standard of English and showing a record of volunteering in their communities. A consultation on the proposals will be launched later this year.

The plan reflects the Labour government’s response to the growing support for Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which has dominated the immigration debate. Reform said last week it was considering abolishing indefinite leave to remain altogether and replacing it with a five-year renewable work visa.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer directly criticised the party on Sunday, accusing it of promoting a "racist policy" of mass deportations that would "tear this country apart."

Immigration has long been a defining political issue in Britain. The desire to control arrivals was a key factor in the 2016 referendum vote to leave the European Union, yet despite Brexit, net arrivals have climbed to record levels, intensifying public debate and political pressure.

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