Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will announce new immigration rules requiring migrants to demonstrate how they contribute to society before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
In her keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference, Mahmood will outline tougher conditions for settlement, including high-level English language proficiency, a clean criminal record, and community volunteering.
The new policy forms part of Labour’s strategy to present a “fair migration” system while drawing a sharp contrast with Reform UK, which has pledged to abolish indefinite leave to remain altogether.
Settlement Period to Be Doubled from Five to Ten Years
Currently, migrants can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, granting them the right to live, work, and study in the UK permanently. Labour’s plan will double this period to 10 years.
The government also intends to make settlement conditional on proof of National Insurance contributions, no reliance on welfare benefits, and active integration into local communities. Some skilled migrants or those making exceptional contributions could qualify sooner.
Labour says its approach contrasts with Reform UK’s proposal to replace indefinite leave to remain with renewable visas every five years — even for those who already hold permanent status. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called Reform’s stance “racist” and “immoral.”
Reform UK Pushes Back as Immigration Debate Intensifies
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage responded by accusing Labour of failing to believe in “border controls,” while his party’s policy chief Zia Yusuf argued that UK taxpayers should not fund welfare for foreign nationals.
With Reform UK leading in national polls, Labour’s tougher stance on immigration reflects an effort to win back working-class voters who may feel drawn to Farage’s messaging.
A Message of Patriotism and Responsibility
In her speech, Mahmood will stress that patriotism must not be “reduced to ethno-nationalism,” arguing that strong borders and managed migration are essential to maintaining an “open, tolerant, generous country.”
She will also highlight her personal story, recalling her parents’ arrival in the UK and her own childhood experience of shoplifting at her family’s corner shop, which shaped her resolve to tackle crime.
Tackling Shoplifting with “Winter of Action”
Alongside immigration reform, Mahmood will launch a nationwide “winter of action” against shoplifting, with police forces working alongside local businesses to crack down on theft.
The speech reinforces Labour’s dual focus: addressing public concerns about immigration while strengthening law and order to rebuild trust with working communities.
