Labour has been slammed for “ripping off” the Tories’ migration policy with plans to tighten restrictions for those arriving in Britain. Migrants will need to wait longer before they can apply to make their residency permanent under plans drawn up by the Government.
The Labour plan echoes a policy set out by the Tories this week under which they would double the residency requirement to 10 years for migrants applying to remain indefinitely. Ministers are trying to clamp down on the arrivals into Britain amid high levels of legal migration. Chris Philp, Shadow Home Secretary, said: “This Labour government is so bereft of ideas on migration that it has resorted to trying to rip off parts of Conservative migration policy.
“Kemi Badenoch and I made clear earlier this year that citizenship of this country must be a privilege, not an automatic right, and laid out a series of new proposals to increase the time needed to gain indefinite leave to remain – and what did Labour do? Vote these measures down in Parliament. Now, with the migration crisis spiralling out of control and no plans to tackle it, they’ve realised the Conservatives were right all along – but apparently haven’t had the courage to bring forward our plans in full.
“We will always work to put the national interest first. If Labour were serious about doing the same, they would back our other proposals such as disapplying the Human Rights Act and deporting all foreign criminals.”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has been charged with putting together measures that Labour hopes will show the ruling party is tackling immigration amid the rise of Reform UK.
Currently, most people who come on time-limited visas can apply for indefinite leave to remain after they have lived and worked in the UK for five years.
The permanent status can lead to benefits and citizenship.
Mr Philp called Labour’s move a “humiliating U-turn”.
The Home Office has declined to comment on plans to change the conditions concerning indefinite leave to remain but said a new White Paper would “set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system”.