UK Opposition Pushes for Tougher Citizenship Rules, Higher Earnings Threshold

The UK's Opposition Conservative Party has proposed sweeping changes to the country's immigration and citizenship policies, introducing stricter requirements for permanent residency. Under the plan outlined by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, low-wage foreign workers and unemployed migrants would be barred from securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), effectively tightening pathways to UK citizenship.

Key Proposed Changes

Extended Residency Requirement: The qualifying period for ILR would be doubled from five to ten years.

Economic Contribution Test: Households applying for ILR must prove they are "net contributors" to the UK economy by meeting a higher earnings threshold.

No Welfare Dependency: Applicants must not have claimed social benefits or lived in social housing during the qualifying period.

Criminal Record Restrictions: Individuals with criminal convictions would be ineligible for permanent residency.

Badenoch: ‘Citizenship Should Be Earned’

Speaking on the policy shift, Badenoch emphasized that UK citizenship and permanent residency should be granted only to those who demonstrate a meaningful commitment to the country.

“Our country is not a dormitory—it’s our home,” she said. “The right to citizenship and permanent residency should only go to those who have proven their dedication to the UK.”

Badenoch also criticized the Labour government, accusing it of failing to control migration. “Labour is overseeing an incoming disaster,” she argued. “Instead of reducing immigration, their policies make it easier for both legal and illegal migrants to stay.”

Impact on Indian Migrants

Indians constitute the largest immigrant group in the UK, with 253,000 arrivals in 2023. Of these, 127,000 came for work, 115,000 for education, and 9,000 for other reasons. Indian nationals also accounted for 38% of dependants on work visas, more than any other nationality.

Government data further indicates that:

39.8% of Indian-origin workers in the UK hold professional jobs, the highest among all ethnic groups.

10.6% occupy managerial, director, and senior official positions.

5.3% work in skilled trades.

6.7% are in elementary, low-skilled occupations.

Internal Divisions and Political Backlash

The proposal has sparked tensions within the Conservative Party. Badenoch recently clashed with shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, a former home secretary of Indian origin, over past Conservative immigration policies. Patel dismissed the idea that previous Tory governments had weakened border controls, calling such claims “distortionary.”

Badenoch acknowledged past missteps, stating, “It is important the Tories tell the truth about the mistakes we made.”

A Shifting Political Landscape

Immigration remains a dominant issue in British politics. In 2023, net migration reached a record 906,000, fueling public concern. A recent YouGov poll found that 56% of Britons believe Labour’s immigration policies are “not strict enough,” compared to just 21% who consider them appropriate or overly restrictive.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to reduce net migration during this Parliament. The government is set to release a white paper outlining stricter requirements for businesses to prioritize domestic workers before hiring from abroad.

As the debate intensifies, the UK’s immigration policies are expected to play a crucial role in the next general election, shaping the nation’s economic and demographic future.