Reform UK has unveiled radical plans to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) completely, including rescinding it retrospectively, in what the party claims would save taxpayers £230 billion and affect millions of migrants currently on the path to settlement.
The controversial proposal, announced by Reform’s “Doge chief” Zia Yusuf, targets what he dubbed the “Boriswave” – a reference to the surge of migrants who entered Britain following the Conservative government’s 2021 “New Plan for Immigration.” The party warns that between 2026 and 2030, at least 800,000 migrants will qualify for ILR under current rules.
ILR currently allows migrants to live, work and study indefinitely in the UK whilst accessing the NHS without paying the immigration health surcharge and claiming certain public benefits. Reform’s plan would eliminate this status entirely, forcing hundreds of thousands to lose their settled status in what would be one of the most dramatic immigration policy reversals in British history.
‘Four Times Our Defence Budget’
In a damning assessment, Mr Yusuf claimed the “Boriswave” allowed 3.8 million new people into the country on long-term visas, with 96% being non-EU nationals. Of these, 2 million are currently on the path to ILR, with the first wave becoming eligible from January 1, 2026.
“Estimates suggest that at least 800,000 of these individuals will be granted ILR under current rules at a total lifetime cost to the British taxpayer of £234 billion,” Yusuf stated. That’s four times our entire defence budget, double our education budget, and 12 times our police budget.
The party confirmed that under a potential Reform government, the changes would lead to hundreds of thousands of people losing their settled status in the UK. However, Yusuf claimed this would be carried out “on a staggered and orderly basis to allow businesses to train British workers to replace them.”
‘Operation Restoring Justice’
Reform’s plan includes closing what it calls “loopholes” to ensure only UK citizens receive welfare or social housing. The party claims many of those who would lose their leave to remain are “entirely dependent on the welfare state” and would leave voluntarily upon losing access to benefits.
Those who don’t leave voluntarily would be subject to immigration enforcement as part of what Reform calls “Operation Restoring Justice” – described as a mass deportation programme.
Deputy leader Richard Tice added: “If you come to Britain to work, then work, don’t rip us off.
The proposals follow recommendations from the Adam Smith Institute last year and represent one of Reform’s most significant policy announcements since the general election.
Legal and Practical Questions
The plan to retrospectively rescind settled status raises significant legal questions about property rights, human rights law, and Britain’s international obligations. Immigration lawyers have previously warned that retroactive changes to immigration status could face extensive legal challenges.
The practical implications of removing ILR from potentially millions of people who have built lives, careers and families in the UK would be enormous. Many would have British citizen children, own property, run businesses, or work in critical sectors like healthcare.
Critics are likely to question the £234 billion figure, which appears to assume all ILR holders are net recipients of public funds rather than contributors through taxes. Many skilled workers and entrepreneurs on the path to ILR pay substantial taxes and create employment.
Political Context
The announcement comes as Reform UK seeks to establish itself as the primary opposition to Labour’s immigration policies. With net migration remaining a top voter concern and Labour facing criticism over its handling of small boat crossings, Reform is positioning itself as offering the toughest stance on immigration.
The party’s willingness to propose retrospective changes to immigration status marks a significant escalation in rhetoric around migration policy. Whether such proposals could ever be implemented given legal constraints and practical considerations remains highly questionable.
Mr Yusuf’s warning that Britain is “on the brink of fiscal disaster” due to immigration echoes Reform’s broader economic messaging, though economists dispute whether immigration represents a net cost or benefit to public finances.
As the first “Boriswave” migrants approach ILR eligibility in 2026, the debate over settlement rights and immigration costs is set to intensify, with Reform’s dramatic proposals likely to provoke fierce debate about the rights of long-term residents and Britain’s approach to immigration.
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Image Credit:
Nigel Farage addressing Reform UK rally at Trago Mills, Devon (24 June 2024) — photo by Owain Davies, CC BY-SA 4.0
