The Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has revealed that immigrants seeking British citizenship will now have to wait for 15 years before they can apply.
Badenoch disclosed this in a viral video on X (formerly Twitter) while unveiling plans to reduce immigration and strengthen border control in the UK.
“Britain is our home, it’s not a hotel, it’s time to tell the truth on immigration and propose real plans to do something about it. I want to reduce immigration and make living here actually mean something,” she said.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Essex stressed the need for Britain to change the way its immigration system works, highlighting five (5) things the Conservative Party is going to do differently.
Her words: “If you want to stay in our country permanently and apply for indefinite leave to remain, the time you have to live here before you apply will increase from 5 years to 10 years. You will have to be a net contributor with a high enough salary, especially if you want to bring family members with you, and if you’ve got a criminal record, you are barred.
“If you have claimed benefits or need social housing, you can’t even apply. We will increase the time before you can apply for a British passport from 12 months to 5 years, meaning it will take a minimum of 15 years to start an application.”
She added: “If you enter this country illegally, or outstay your visa, you will be banned from ever getting leave to remain or a passport.”
The MP explained that these changes, on top of a strict numerical cap on numbers, will constitute the most robust changes ever made to the British immigration system, emphasising that they will result in “lower numbers, secure borders and an immigration system that finally works for the British people.”
She further stated that the development is another step in the UK plan to control its immigration system.
