No immigrant should stay in UK forever, Kemi Badenoch tells Labour

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has asserted that immigrants arriving on temporary work visas should not be granted automatic permanent residency. She is urging the current Labour government to uphold its proposed 10-year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain in the country.

“

People who come to Britain on temporary work visas should not automatically be able to stay forever.

Badenoch voiced her concerns in a social media post, criticizing calls from some Labour lawmakers to soften planned immigration reforms. She argued that people entering Britain on temporary visas should not expect to stay permanently. The Conservative leader stated that her party would support Labour's original plan to pass this measure through Parliament.

“

This Labour government was right to make that harder. Now their MPs want them to u-turn. Conservatives will back Labour’s original plan to help get it through Parliament.

In a letter co-signed with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, Badenoch expressed alarm over reports that the Labour government might exempt approximately two million migrants who entered the UK on work visas between 2021 and the present from the extended qualifying period. She described this potential move as a "grave mistake," recalling that Britain has previously faced negative consequences from allowing migrants to settle too quickly.

“

As Conservatives learned to our cost, five years is too short a time to obtain the indefinite right to remain in the UK.

Badenoch contended that many migrants working in low-paid, low-skilled jobs could be replaced by economically inactive British citizens if suitable opportunities were created for them. She further argued that individuals failing to make a significant economic contribution over a decade should be required to leave the country upon their temporary visa's expiration. Granting indefinite leave to remain after only five years, she warned, would also increase pressure on the UK's welfare system, as recipients become eligible for benefits and can later apply for citizenship.

“

Many of these immigrants are working in low wage, low skilled jobs which could be done by some of the 9 million economically inactive British citizens.