Reform UK unveils radical immigration overhaul threatening settled status rights

Reform UK proposes sweeping changes to UK immigration laws, including abolition of Indefinite Leave to Remain and stricter residency rules, prompting widespread controversy and fears of social disruption.

Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has put forward a radical immigration overhaul that extends far beyond the usual political promises to curb migration and reduce welfare spending. At the heart of the party’s controversial proposals is the abolition of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), the current status that allows migrants to live, work, and access benefits in the UK indefinitely after five years. According to Reform UK’s plan, ILR would not only be abolished for new applicants but also rescinded for those already holding it, compelling many to reapply under the new, significantly stricter conditions. Only renewable five-year work visas would be issued, restricted to those with high earnings, fluent English, and limited dependent family members. Moreover, only British citizens would be eligible to claim welfare benefits—a measure the party claims could save taxpayers up to £230 billion, a figure which Reform insists is conservative despite the Centre for Policy Studies think-tank withdrawing its backing of this estimate.

The proposed immigration overhaul could result in the enforced removal of hundreds of thousands of legal migrants who currently hold settled status. Reform UK’s policy director, Zia Yusuf, clarified that while the plan would not affect those with EU settled status already granted under the Brexit agreement, it seeks to renegotiate benefits eligibility for these individuals, risking renewed political friction with Brussels. The party also plans to increase the residency requirement for UK citizenship from five years to seven, making it harder for migrants to fully settle. African and Asian social care sectors, already reeling from staffing shortages, could face further strain despite Reform’s suggestion that employers in these critical industries might pay levies to train domestic workers as a condition for hiring foreign workers under new Acute Skills Shortage Visas.

Despite Reform UK’s ambitious vision, the policy has encountered significant backlash from unions and public sector bodies, particularly in healthcare. The Royal College of Nursing condemned the plan as “abhorrent beyond words,” warning that thousands of migrant healthcare staff could be displaced at a time when the NHS is already under pressure. Experts from Oxford University estimate that around 430,000 non-European visa holders have been granted ILR in the past two decades, with a further 800,000 expected to qualify soon under current rules. Many critics fear the social and economic disruption that could arise from mass revocations of ILR from people who are established contributors to UK society.

The financial claims underpinning Reform’s proposals have been vigorously challenged. Although the party maintains that savings will exceed £230 billion, the Centre for Policy Studies has distanced itself from this figure, citing changes in Office for Budget Responsibility definitions that undermine the original calculations. Nevertheless, Farage asserts that these figures are likely understated since government data does not comprehensively track how many foreign nationals receive state pensions or disability benefits.

On the broader immigration and asylum front, Farage’s Reform UK has advanced even more contentious plans, including repealing the Human Rights Act, withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights, and dismantling legal safeguards that currently prevent forced deportations. The party wants to ramp up detention and deportation efforts targeting unauthorized migrants, including women and children, and has proposed permanent bans on their return. These aggressive stances come amid record levels of asylum applications and public unease over the use of hotels to house migrants. While the Starmer government focuses on diplomatic cooperation with France and streamlining asylum claims, Reform UK’s proposals suggest a complete overhaul aimed at drastically reducing migration by leveraging legal and administrative tools in ways that could provoke intense national and international controversy.

If successfully implemented, these policies would mark an unprecedented shift in the UK’s approach to legal migration and settlement rights, fundamentally altering who can remain in the country and under what conditions. While appealing to a growing segment of the electorate worried about immigration, the practical consequences and human costs of dismantling existing settled status rights raise complex questions about social cohesion, economic stability, and the UK’s international obligations.

📌 Reference Map:

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The narrative presents recent proposals by Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and implement stricter immigration policies. Similar proposals have been reported in the past, notably in August 2025, when Farage unveiled plans to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights and repeal the Human Rights Act to facilitate mass deportations of asylum seekers. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uks-farage-unveils-plan-deport-asylum-seekers-warns-civil-disorder-2025-08-26/?utm_source=openai)) However, the current report provides updated figures and details, indicating a higher freshness score. The narrative also references a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Reform UK’s policy director, Zia Yusuf, and other sources. These quotes appear to be original, with no identical matches found in earlier material. The wording of the quotes varies slightly from previous reports, indicating potential originality. No online matches were found for these quotes, suggesting they are potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
7

Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, the Daily Mail, which adds credibility. However, the Daily Mail has faced criticism for sensationalism and inaccuracies in the past, which may affect the reliability of the information presented. The report references a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The claims made in the narrative are plausible and align with recent political developments. The proposed immigration overhaul and the figures cited are consistent with previous reports and statements from Reform UK. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The report lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, which reduces the score and flags it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure does not include excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is not unusually dramatic or vague, resembling typical corporate or official language.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary:
The narrative presents recent proposals by Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, to overhaul the UK’s immigration system. While the content appears to be original and the claims are plausible, the reliance on a single source and the lack of supporting details from other reputable outlets raise concerns about the reliability and comprehensiveness of the information. The Daily Mail’s history of sensationalism and inaccuracies further affects the reliability of the information presented. Therefore, the overall assessment is ‘OPEN’ with a medium confidence level.