Migrants seeking to remain permanently in the UK will face stricter requirements including high-standard English proficiency, clean criminal records and community volunteering. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will outline these new conditions in her Labour Party conference speech on Monday.
Asylum seekers will also need to be working, paying national insurance and not claiming benefits under the proposed changes. The Government plans to launch a consultation on these requirements later this year.
Extended waiting periods
The changes build on earlier proposals to extend the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain applications from five to 10 years. Currently, most migrants arriving on time-limited work visas can apply for permanent status after five years in the UK.
Labour emphasised a "dividing line" between their proposals and Reform UK's pledge to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants. The party is positioning the measures as part of a balanced approach to immigration policy.
Personal reflections on migration
Mahmood will draw on her parents' experience of arriving in the UK, arguing that migrant acceptance depends on their contribution to local communities. She plans to warn party members that "you won't always like what I do" as she pursues tougher immigration policies.
The Home Secretary will also express concerns that "patriotism, a force for good, is turning into something smaller, something more like ethno-nationalism". She will argue that toughness on borders, migration and street safety are essential for maintaining an "open, generous, tolerant" country.
Anti-shoplifting initiative
Mahmood will reference her childhood experience of working behind the till at her family's corner shop, where she witnessed shoplifting firsthand. She plans to launch a "winter of action" scheme specifically targeting retail crime.
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
