The Conservative leader urges Labour to retain the proposed 10-year route to permanent residency, saying work visas should not guarantee settlement.
Leader of the UK Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has urged the Labour government to retain its proposed 10-year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), insisting that temporary work visas should not automatically lead to permanent settlement in the United Kingdom.
Badenoch made the call in a post on her X handle on Monday, where she shared a letter to the UK Home Secretary criticising efforts by some Labour lawmakers to dilute the proposed immigration reforms.
“People who come to Britain on temporary work visas should not automatically be able to stay forever,” she wrote, adding that the Conservatives would support Labour’s original proposal if it is presented to Parliament without changes.
Opposes Exemptions for Migrants
In the letter, co-signed by Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Badenoch warned against reports that the government may exempt about two million migrants who arrived on work visas since 2021 from the proposed reforms.
She described any such exemption as “a grave mistake,” arguing that previous immigration policies allowed migrants to obtain permanent residency too quickly.
According to Badenoch, extending the qualifying period from five to 10 years would help ensure that only migrants making a meaningful long-term economic contribution are eligible to remain permanently.
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Badenoch argued that migrants who are unemployed or working in low-paid jobs should return to their home countries once their temporary work visas expire.
She also maintained that granting indefinite leave to remain after five years increases pressure on the UK’s welfare system, as beneficiaries become eligible for social benefits and may later apply for British citizenship.
The Conservative leader further insisted that changing the qualifying period would not amount to retrospective legislation because temporary work visas do not guarantee permanent residency.
Badenoch said the Conservative Party is prepared to back Labour’s original immigration proposals if they are introduced in their original form through the Immigration Rules or the proposed Immigration and Asylum Bill.
She added that Labour’s handling of the reforms would demonstrate whether the government is genuinely committed to reducing immigration and strengthening the UK’s border controls.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.