Migrants in the UK will be required to demonstrate their contribution to society before gaining the right to remain permanently, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce at Labour’s annual conference.
The proposals would toughen the conditions for securing indefinite leave to remain (ILR), doubling the qualifying period from five to ten years and introducing stricter requirements.
Under the plans, migrants would need to:
- Reach a high level of English proficiency
- Hold a clean criminal record
- Make National Insurance contributions
- Avoid claiming benefits
- Undertake voluntary work in their communities
- Labour’s Dividing Line With Reform UK
Labour says the policy is designed to draw a “clear distinction” from Reform UK, which has pledged to abolish indefinite leave to remain altogether. Reform’s plan would force migrants, including those already settled, to reapply for visas every five years.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has branded the rival policy “racist” and “immoral”, arguing it would uproot families and workers who have contributed to Britain for decades. Reform leader Nigel Farage dismissed the criticism, telling the Daily Express that Labour “do not believe in border controls” and accusing Starmer of a “desperate attack”.
Integration and Contribution at the Core
Mahmood is expected to argue that permanent settlement must be earned through integration and civic contribution. Labour says some highly skilled migrants or those who make exceptional contributions may be able to secure ILR earlier.
The home secretary will frame the policy as part of Labour’s vision of “fair migration” — secure borders alongside an open and tolerant society. “Patriotism,” she will argue, “is turning into something smaller, something more like ethno-nationalism.”
Tackling Reform UK’s Poll Lead
Labour’s tougher migration stance comes as Reform UK leads in national opinion polls, with the government seeking to blunt Farage’s appeal by presenting a balanced approach. Mahmood will warn delegates that if Labour fails to deliver on its promises, “working people will turn away from us and seek solace in the false promises” of Reform.
Personal Story and Crime Crackdown
Mahmood is also expected to reference her parents’ experience of arriving in Britain and her own upbringing in a Birmingham corner shop. Recalling being a victim of shoplifting as a child, she will use the story to launch a “winter of action” on retail crime, pledging police-business partnerships to tackle theft.
