Leave to remain Being in work and speaking good English to be among stricter criteria

Criminals and people who cannot speak “a high standard” of English will be denied permission to settle in the UK, Shabana Mahmood will announce today, in a proposal meant to counter the growing electoral threat from Reform UK.

- Rajeev Syal

In a speech framing herself as “a tough home secretary”, Mahmood will say that people seeking indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will have to demonstrate they have integrated and contributed to society through national insurance payments and voluntary work, and not relied on benefits.

Mahmood will raise the possibility that migrants could live in the UK for a decade and still be denied permission to stay if they fail to meet new standards, while others will be fast tracked. A consultation will be launched this year.

The proposals will be seen as a direct response to Nigel Farage’s announcement last week that Reform would scrap ILR for non-EU citizens and bar them from claiming benefits - including for those who already have been granted the status.

Labour said there is a clear “dividing line” between the government’s proposals and Reform’s vow to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants.