'Completely mad and it must end'...1.3m foreigners claim benefits

BRITAIN is picking up the tab for 1.3 million foreigners claiming universal credit.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

And the number of migrants receiving handouts after being given settlement rights has more than doubled in three years.

Some 213,666 migrants given indefinite leave to remain received universal credit in July, up from 153,648 a year ago.

But it is a 123% increase from the 95,612 in April 2022.

Another 770,213 European migrants are claiming universal credit, up from 644,847 in April 2022, after being allowed to stay under the EU Settlement Scheme.

And Britain's record levels of immigration have prompted fears the bill will rise further over the coming years.

Research by the Centre for Policy Studies revealed over two million visas were issued to migrants between January 2021 and June 2024.

This has led to warnings that as many as 800,000 could apply for indefinite leave to remain - and get access to benefits, the NHS and social homes after they have lived in the UK for five years.

The first of this cohort dubbed the Boris Wave after former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson could apply for indefinite leave to remain from January.

Pressure

Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said: "Once they have ILR, they can stay indefinitely in the UK and access benefits, social housing and free healthcare.

"When millions of people across the country are struggling to get by, this is completely mad, and it must end. We must prioritise the needs of British citizens and stop spending billions of pounds a year on those who've come from abroad."