By WTF Land
Nigel Farage is stirring the pot again, this time with Reform UK's plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for migrants. Announced on September 22, 2025, the policy would force non-citizens to reapply for visas after 10 years, with high salary thresholds and no NHS access. Farage says it's to reduce net migration and boost integration, but critics like Keir Starmer call it "racist" and "immoral." As I report from the fringes of the Labour conference in Liverpool, where Starmer is defending his own tougher ILR conditions, the divide is clear. Is this the reform Britain needs, or a step back to division?
Let's break it down. Net migration hit 431,000 in the year to December 2024, down from 860,000 but still high. Farage's plan targets the 900,000+ arriving annually, requiring English proficiency, clean records, and community volunteering. "We can't afford endless settlement," he said at a rally. But the Home Secretary's announcement on September 29 introduced similar rules – high English levels, no crimes, and volunteering – for ILR applicants. "Contribution-based settlement," Mahmood called it, aiming to cut numbers while being fair.
The backlash is fierce. The Guardian reports thousands at risk of deportation under Reform's policy, while ITV notes Starmer's changes could affect long-term residents. Protests outside Labour's conference on September 28 saw pro-Palestine groups clash with police, with 100 arrested. A petition against racism surpassed 2.2 million signatures, and the Muslim Council warned a burka ban (another Reform idea) could drive Muslims away.
Starmer's government is under siege. His approval is -56, the lowest ever, per NBC News. Resignations like Angela Rayner over property scandals and Peter Mandelson over Epstein ties have hurt. At the conference, Starmer urged unity against Reform's "fight for the soul of the nation," but polls show Reform leading by 15 points, projecting 311 seats.
Farage, testifying in the US on censorship, is positioning Reform as the alternative. His foreign policy, per Chatham House, focuses on migration control. But is scrapping ILR feasible? Experts say it could breach human rights, per Al Jazeera.
As Britain grapples with housing shortages and strained services, this policy debate is pivotal. What do you think – necessary reform or divisive? Comment below.
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