Nigel Farage’s party proposes scrapping indefinite leave to remain for stricter work visas, risking diplomatic fallout and redefining migrant rights amid economic and political debates.
Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has unveiled ambitious plans to overhaul the UK’s immigration and welfare systems, stirring significant debate over the future rights of migrants in Britain. Central to the party’s manifesto is the proposal to scrap the current Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status, replacing it with a renewable five-year work visa that imposes stricter conditions on migrants, including the denial of welfare benefits and restrictions on bringing family dependents. This policy, Reform claims, aims to curb what it terms “endless cheap foreign labour” and could yield savings running into hundreds of billions of pounds.
According to Farage, the reforms would initially exempt the estimated 4.2 million EU citizens holding settled status—a protection provided under the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement post-Brexit—but would affect over 800,000 non-EU migrants on or approaching ILR. Reform UK’s plan sets a substantially higher income threshold for visa eligibility, potentially rising from £41,700 to around £60,000 annually, effectively limiting entry to higher-earning migrants. However, the precise implications for the migrant population remain unclear, as the salary threshold revision complicates estimates of how many current residents would lose eligibility. Experts warn this could unpredictably affect workforce composition and labour supply.
The party’s claims of saving £234 billion through these reforms have attracted scepticism and criticism. The figure was derived from a Centre for Policy Studies report based on Office for Budget Responsibility data that has since been challenged. Reform UK insists the savings are likely underestimated, but Labour and other critics describe the proposals as unfunded and unworkable, with Anna Turley, Labour’s immigration spokeswoman, asserting that the plan is “falling apart in real time.” Business leaders also caution the impact on labour shortages, noting that many employers rely on overseas recruitment to fill skill gaps that cannot be met domestically.
Farage’s proposals have ignited tensions beyond the UK, particularly concerning the rights of EU citizens in Britain and UK nationals residing across Europe. European diplomats have firmly rejected any attempt to downgrade the rights of EU nationals granted settled status under the Withdrawal Agreement. A European diplomat told The Telegraph that reopening negotiations to reduce these protections could “crash relations” and breach Britain’s treaty commitments. The reciprocal nature of the agreement protects UK nationals living in EU countries, a dimension Brussels is keen to uphold.
Efforts to safeguard EU citizens’ rights have been ongoing, with recent UK government amendments aimed at ensuring those with pre-settled status can access welfare benefits under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. These safeguards arose partly from advocacy by groups like The3million, representing EU citizens in the UK, seeking to prevent hardship for those at risk of destitution. Such legal guarantees underline the complexity and sensitivity of altering settled migrant rights without violating international agreements.
The backdrop to these discussions also includes prior diplomatic strains between the UK and the EU. In 2021, the UK’s decision to downgrade the status of the EU’s ambassador led to the postponement of key bilateral meetings and heightened tensions. The EU warned against measures that would diminish diplomatic immunities and privileges, viewing such actions as inconsistent with the norms accorded to other international delegations globally.
Reform UK’s hardline stance on immigration reflects growing public concern over record levels of net migration recorded under previous Conservative administrations, which Farage has criticised sharply. Yet, the practicalities of implementing such sweeping changes, alongside the potential economic and diplomatic fallout, remain contentious. The party suggests these reforms would realign the immigration system with what it deems normal global norms, where work visas are time-limited, personal, and without automatic family entry or welfare claims. However, the balance between sovereignty, economic needs, and treaty obligations continues to provoke debate among policymakers and stakeholders.
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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 developments, with the earliest known publication date being 22 September 2025. The Express article is a republished version of the Reuters report, indicating recycled content. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from Nigel Farage and Anna Turley. The earliest known usage of these quotes is from the Reuters report dated 22 September 2025. The identical quotes appearing in earlier material suggest potential reuse. No online matches were found for the European diplomat’s quote, raising the score but flagging it as potentially original or exclusive content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, Reuters, which is a strength. However, the Express article is a republished version of the Reuters report, indicating potential issues with originality. The narrative mentions a European diplomat, but no verifiable information about this individual is available online, flagging it as potentially fabricated.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative presents plausible claims about Reform UK’s proposed immigration and welfare reforms. The claims are covered elsewhere, including the Reuters report. The narrative lacks specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, reducing the score and flagging it as potentially synthetic. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic. The structure includes excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim, noted as a possible distraction tactic. The tone is unusually dramatic, vague, and doesn’t resemble typical corporate or official language, flagged for further scrutiny.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents recycled content from a reputable source, with potential issues regarding originality and the inclusion of unverifiable information. The lack of specific factual anchors and the presence of potentially synthetic elements further undermine its credibility.
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