Labour promise changes to indefinite leave to remain - but don't go as far as Reform

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will depend on a new series of requirements, including how much someone contributes to the UK, the home secretary has said - as Labour seek to counter Nigel Farage's anti-migration policies.

Shabana Mahmood revealed some details of promised reforms to the system, including higher English language requirements, as well as paying into national insurance, a "spotless" criminal record and having a job. However, unlike Reform's policy, Labour do not plan to deport people who already have ILR who do not apply to be British citizens.

Labour Party conference: Follow live updates here Speaking on Sunday, Sir Keir Starmer branded Mr Farage's proposals "racist". Ms Mahmood told the Labour Party conference a consultation into ILR will take place, which will look into tougher requirements for applicants.

Earlier this year, the government said it was considering allowing people to only gain ILR after 10 years, instead of the current five years. The home secretary said some people will be able to gain ILR earlier than 10 years, while some will take more than 10 years, depending on their contribution to the UK.

The requirements she is planning to introduce are: • Being in work• Making national insurance contributions• Not being on benefits• Learning English to a high standard• No criminal record• "Truly giving back to the community" through, for example, volunteering. Ahead of the speech, Labour said: "These measures draw a clear dividing line between the Labour government and Reform, whose recent announcement on indefinite leave to remain would force workers, who have been contributing to this country for decades, to leave their homes and families." Ms Mahmood told the conference her policies are needed for an "open, tolerant and generous country" - but members "won't always like what I do".

She said some may describe her in the coming months as a "tough" home secretary. "Perhaps that is true, but let it never be forgotten that I will be a tough Labour home secretary," she added to applause.

Read more:Mahmood vows migration law reformsLabour and Lib Dems could learn from Farage's plansUK records second biggest annual population jump in 75 years Concerns over ILR - which gives people the right to settle, work and study in the UK and even claim benefits - have been mounting in the lead up to January 2026, when a large number of people are expected to become eligible for the status. Those who have lived and worked in the UK for five years are eligible for ILR - and January next year will see the first of the so-called "Boriswave" reach this checkpoint.

This is the increase in immigration that began under former prime minister Boris Johnson, when his post-Brexit immigration policies came into force. Statistics from the past two periods on record - 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 - showed the highest level of legal immigration to the UK since current record keeping began in the 1940s, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Some have warned that this cohort being eligible for ILR could put further strain on public service, housing and the welfare budget. Reform's head of policy Zia Yusuf, when his party's policy was announced, said: "Between 2026 and 2030, thanks to the Boriswave, 800,000 new migrants are estimated to get ILR.

"About half of all of them will never work, ever." Reform claimed this would cost hundreds of billions of pounds - but the numbers were in fact from a withdrawn thinktank paper. ????Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne's on your podcast app???? Labour are already consulting on whether to change the five-year period before ILR claims can be submitted to 10 years - but it is not clear when this will come into force.

As well as a crackdown on migration, Ms Mahmood also announced a "winter of action" aimed at tackling shoplifting and antisocial behaviour over the Christmas period..