The UK’s ruling Labour Party has announced a new immigration policy that tightens the conditions for permanent residency. The residency requirement will be increased from 5 years to 10 years, along with additional stipulations, including a clean criminal record and a high level of English proficiency. Local public opinion suggests that this move is aimed at restoring confidence among voters who feel abandoned by the extreme right Reform Party.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced at the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool on Monday that the conditions for applying for permanent residency will be tightened. Applicants will now need to demonstrate their commitment to social values, which include having a job, paying social security contributions, maintaining a clean criminal record, not receiving social benefits, having a record of voluntary service, and possessing high-level English skills. A public consultation on the plan will take place later this year.
Braverman emphasized that even if someone has lived in the UK for 10 years, their application for permanent residency may still be denied if they do not meet the requirements. She stated, "Some people may receive permanent residency sooner than the designated 10 years due to their contributions, while others may be forced to wait longer due to insufficient contributions. In certain cases, some will be denied permanent residency."
However, Braverman did not clarify in her speech whether the "5+1" immigration pathway available to Hong Kong residents holding British National (Overseas) passports (BNO) would be affected.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in an interview with the BBC, criticized the Reform Party's proposal to eliminate permanent residency rights as racially discriminatory and unethical. He estimated that if the measures are implemented, hundreds of thousands of people could face deportation. Starmer stated that in the face of the Reform Party's threat, now is not the time for reflection but rather for unity to defeat the Reform Party, describing it as a matter of life and death.
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