Badenoch proposes tougher British citizenship rules
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed extending the time required for immigrants to apply for British citizenship from the current six years to 15 years.
In one of her first major policy announcements since becoming leader, Badenoch also suggested that indefinite leave to remain (ILR) should not be granted to individuals with criminal records or those who have claimed benefits or social housing.
Speaking to the BBC, she argued that citizenship is a privilege, not just a right, and should be reserved for people with a “meaningful connection to the UK.”
Labour minister Angela Eagle dismissed the proposal, stating that after 14 years of Conservative governance, “no one will take seriously anything they claim.”
Currently, immigrants can apply for ILR after five years of work in the UK, with some visas allowing applications after two or three years. After obtaining ILR, they can apply for British citizenship 12 months later.
The Conservatives want to extend the period before applying for ILR from five to 10 years, followed by a further five-year wait before seeking citizenship. They propose backdating the changes to 2021 through an amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which is due for debate in Parliament next week.
Badenoch said the current system had created a “conveyor belt” to citizenship, leading to increased pressure on public services.
“We need to make sure that people coming here have a real, meaningful connection to the UK—so no criminal records, they should be net contributors to the economy, not relying on benefits, but people who care about our country and our communities.”
She claimed the policy would reduce numbers, but declined to specify by how much.
Last year, after becoming leader, Badenoch admitted that the Conservative Party had “got it wrong” on immigration, as net migration reached a record high of 906,000.
She has also advocated for a hard cap on migration but has refused to set a specific figure, stating that it should depend on prevailing conditions.
When asked if she was reacting to the rising popularity of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, Badenoch said the Conservatives “needed to rebuild trust with the public” and acknowledged that voters naturally turn to “the protest party.”
Credit: YahooNews
