Downing Street strongly criticized Nigel Farage’s immigration proposals as unrealistic, unworkable, and lacking funding, accusing Reform UK of sowing division. Keir Starmer’s press secretary accused Reform UK of avoiding real solutions for Britain’s challenges by proposing to eliminate the primary path to British citizenship for migrants, potentially jeopardizing the residency status of many individuals already settled in the UK.
The validity of Reform UK’s plan, which aims to save taxpayers £234 billion by scrapping indefinite leave to remain (ILR), has come under scrutiny after the Centre for Policies think tank disavowed the cost-saving estimate, questioning the accuracy of Reform’s financial projections.
Nigel Farage claimed significant welfare spending cuts under Reform UK, emphasizing that welfare benefits would be restricted to UK citizens only. However, it was clarified that this policy would not affect individuals under the post-Brexit EU settlement scheme, including most foreign Universal Credit claimants.
The Prime Minister’s office condemned Farage’s repeated presentation of impractical plans and emphasized Reform’s tendency to fuel division rather than address the nation’s challenges. The PM’s office highlighted the choice between national revitalization and the divisive approach advocated by Reform UK.
Reform UK’s proposal involves requiring migrants to renew their visas every five years instead of granting ILR after five years, imposing stricter eligibility criteria such as higher income thresholds and language proficiency standards. The plan also includes extending the residency requirement to seven years, imposing limitations on family reunification, and denying access to welfare benefits for visa holders.
Reform UK’s claim of saving over £230 billion for taxpayers, based on a disputed report by the Centre of Policy Studies, has been called into question. Labour representatives criticized Reform UK’s lack of a credible plan, dismissing it as unreliable and unrealistic.
Government officials clarified that illegal residents do not receive welfare benefits, and they are considering extending the waiting period for foreign nationals to claim Universal Credit from five to ten years. They emphasized ongoing efforts to reform the welfare system and reduce the benefits expenditure.
Reform UK defended its fiscal projections, anticipating higher costs than previously estimated due to increased uptake of ILR among specific migrant groups. They argued that the actual financial impact would surpass the initial £234 billion projection.
In summary, the debate over Reform UK’s immigration proposals continues, with stakeholders on both sides scrutinizing the feasibility and impact of the suggested policy changes.