Nigel Farage‘s Proposed ILR Abolition Faces Widespread Condemnation
Nigel Farage’s proposal to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for non-EU citizens has triggered a wave of criticism from across the political spectrum, adn also healthcare professionals and advocacy groups. The plan, unveiled by Reform UK, aims to remove ILR from those “not working, have not worked and in all probability will never, ever work,” but has quickly unravelled under scrutiny, revealing significant practical and ethical concerns.
The policy has been significantly elaborate by a clarification that it would not apply to EU citizens already holding settled status. This exemption, coupled with an estimated 770,000 EU citizens claiming Universal Credit who would also be exempt, has raised questions about the promised savings associated with the proposal. As of the end of 2024, the Migration observatory at the University of Oxford estimates the total population of non-EU citizens with ILR at 430,000.
Farage has suggested a strictly capped visa route for sectors experiencing skills shortages, alongside a requirement for employers to prioritize training local staff. However, this has been met with strong opposition, notably from the healthcare sector. Nicola Ranger, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, labelled the potential removal of migrant nursing staff as “abhorrent,” emphasizing their vital role in the UK’s healthcare system and warning that services would “simply cease to function” without them. Ranger also highlighted the injustice of retrospectively removing rights from individuals who have paid tax and contributed to the country.
The Labour Party has been particularly vocal in its criticism. Chancellor Rachel Reeves dismissed the plans as “having no basis in reality,” while party chair Anna Turley stated the policy was “falling apart in real time,” pointing to Farage’s inability to quantify the impact on families and businesses, or outline implementation details.
Further condemnation came from London Mayor sadiq Khan, who called the threat of deporting legal residents “unacceptable,” and the SNP’s Pete Wishart, who described the proposals as “desperate and despicable.” Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey warned the move could trigger another Windrush scandal,citing a lack of consideration for the practical implications and the contributions of settled individuals.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labelled the policy “half-baked and unworkable,” accusing Reform UK of adopting policies without the necessary detail for enforcement.Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, argued the proposal was “morally wrong” and would undermine the sense of belonging for those who have already established lives in the UK, including Hongkongers and pre-Brexit EU citizens. He emphasized the broad public support for a fair settlement process for those living in the UK for five years, and urged for a swift resolution to the uncertainty created by the proposal.
