Morally repugnant

Farage is told his migrant plan will cripple NHS, He wants to block workers being citizens

- ASHLEY COWBURN and LIZZY BUCHAN

NIGEL Farage has been warned his bid to deport legal migrants could cripple the NHS and care sectors that rely on them.

The Reform boss plans to axe indefinite leave to remain for overseas staff, many of who have dedicated their lives to the sick.

His proposal to repay that dedication by giving them the boot from Britain was branded "unworkable, morally repugnant and half-baked".

Health experts warned the Reform boss that his warped plan would cripple the service, which is already suffering a haemorrhage of workers to posts abroad.

Farage said yesterday he will axe the indefinite leave to remain if he wins power, which would block the main route to citizenship for migrants who have been here for five years.

He has in his sights around 800,000 people here legally who will become eligible for ILR in the coming years.

Under the plan, foreign workers would have to apply for visas every five years, with stricter conditions, which if not met means they face being kicked out.

The former Ukip chief also said he would ban anyone who is not a UK citizen from claiming benefits.

NHS figures this year showed a fifth of current staff were recruited from overseas. Out of 1.5million, 311,000 were non-British.