Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announcing immigration policy on the 22nd. AP/PA Yonhap News. 

Reform UK, the right-wing populist party currently leading in British polls, has announced it will abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and restrict welfare benefits for foreign nationals if it takes power, as part of a move to strengthen immigration policies.

According to the BBC and The Times on the 22nd (local time), Reform UK unveiled an immigration policy titled "British People First" on this day.

Under the current system, foreign nationals who have resided in the UK for five years or more on a valid visa are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which allows for permanent residency, study, and employment. While residency requirements vary slightly depending on the visa type, the standard period is five years. After obtaining ILR, individuals can apply for citizenship upon meeting additional requirements.

The current Labour government is seeking to increase the residency requirement for ILR applications from the current five years to ten years.

Reform UK plans to scrap ILR entirely if it comes to power and replace it with a new visa that requires renewal every five years. The requirements for this new visa would include stricter salary thresholds and English proficiency standards, as well as a clause stipulating that applicants must have never claimed welfare benefits.

Under this plan, non-British citizens would be barred from receiving welfare benefits in the UK. Reform UK claims that this measure could save 234 billion pounds (approximately 440 trillion won) over several decades.

Reform UK added that this policy would apply to non-EU citizens, excluding EU nationals who have already settled in the UK.

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, stated, "The UK should not be the world's food bank," adding, "It is not our job to provide welfare to people coming from all over the world."

He further remarked that "this policy is intended to make everyone realize what the 'Boris wave' is about."

The BBC explained that the "Boris wave" refers to the 3.8 million people who entered the UK following the easing of visa regulations under the Conservative government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson after the Brexit decision.

Zia Yusuf, who is in charge of immigration policy for Reform UK, said that 800,000 people will become eligible to apply for ILR within the next three to four years.

In response, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves stated that Reform UK's estimates for welfare budget savings were "based on no realistic evidence," noting that the government is already reviewing restrictions on welfare benefits for immigrants. She emphasized, "Our government is reducing immigration," and added, "We have returned the highest number of people with no right to be in the UK and are reducing the use of hotels for asylum seekers."

Yonhap News