Hundreds of thousands of immigrants legally staying in the UK will be deported if Reform takes over power, the party has vowed.
Leader Nigel Farage has announced Reform would scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for immigrants to the UK – including those already here.
ILR gives people who have moved to the UK from abroad the ability to live and work here for as long as they want.
It’s typically granted to those who have been in the country on a work visa for five years, who have lived here for 10 years or more, or who have family here.
For many people, it is the first step in the path to becoming a British citizen.
This system would be scrapped and replaced with a new scheme in which immigrants to the UK are put on a temporary visa which they must reapply for every five years.
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It would not only apply to new applicants, but to people who are currently in the country on indefinite leave to remain.
In an article for the Daily Express, Reform policy chief Zia Yusuf said: ‘These changes will lead to hundreds of thousands of people having to apply and ultimately losing their settled status in the UK, which will be done on a staggered and orderly basis to allow businesses to train British workers to replace them.
‘Many of those who will lose their leave to remain are entirely dependent on the welfare state and will leave voluntarily upon losing access to benefits.
‘Those that don’t will be subject to immigration enforcement as part of our mass deportation programme.’
Such a system would be massively disruptive for those currently on ILR, who would face a future where the lives they have built in the UK would be thrown into question every five years.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: ‘Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain.
‘They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
‘Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.’
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats who are currently holding their conference in Bournemouth, branded Reform a ‘threat to our democracy, to things we hold dear, British values – decency, tolerance, respect for the rule of law’.
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