High standard of English to be required for leave to remain, Mahmood to pledge

"Criminals and people who cannot speak English to a high standard will be denied permission to settle in the UK, Shabana Mahmood will announce on Monday, in proposals intended to contain the growing electoral threat from Reform UK. In a speech framing herself as a tough home secretary, Mahmood will say 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 those arriving 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 later 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 those who have already been granted the status."

"Mahmood will set out a series of proposed conditions for gaining ILR including being in work, not taking any benefits payments, learning English to a high standard, having a spotless criminal record and giving back to local communities. Details will be developed in a consultation, but Mahmood is likely to want to set a low bar on which criminal offences have a bearing on ILR qualification, while excluding motoring offences."

Access to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will be tightened with requirements for integration and economic contribution. Applicants will have to show national insurance payments, voluntary work, employment, high-standard English and absence of benefits reliance. Criminal convictions will bar settlement, with a likely low threshold for disqualifying offences but motoring offences excluded. The qualifying period may extend to a baseline of ten years, replacing the usual five-year route to ILR and citizenship. The changes respond to calls to restrict settled status after criticisms of Reform UK's pledge to scrap ILR for non-EU citizens and bar benefit claims.

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