Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed making it more difficult for new immigrants to be able to permanently settle in the UK. She says her party wants to double the time it takes for new migrants to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) status from five years to 10 years.

They will need to have been working for 10 years in UK without ever claiming benefits and earning at least £28,000 a year in today’s prices

Migrants would be blocked from obtaining indefinite leave to remain in the UK if they have claimed benefits or used social housing, under a new policy unveiled by the Conservative as they seek to blunt the threat posed by the rightwing Reform UK party.

Migrants on work visas who claim benefits will be barred from settling indefinitely in the UK, under Kemi Badenoch's first major policy announcement as Tory leader. Badenoch said the period before migrants can apply for indefinite leave to remain - which paves the way for British citizenship - should be extended from five to 10 years.