UK Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has proposed a new immigration policy that would require immigrants to wait a full decade before becoming eligible for public benefits or applying for British citizenship.
In an opinion piece published by the Daily Mail, Badenoch — a British politician of Nigerian heritage — called on the government to restrict access to social benefits for immigrants until they have lived in the country for at least ten years.
She described immigration reform as a key priority for the Conservative Party, stressing that both legal and illegal immigration must be addressed.
According to her, the current system unfairly rewards individuals who circumvent immigration laws, while placing the financial burden on law-abiding citizens.
Badenoch pointed out that although the public is largely aware of the significant funds spent on housing asylum seekers in hotels, fewer people know that many low-income immigrants and refugees can gain “indefinite leave to remain” after just five years — a status that grants access to state benefits like Universal Credit and social housing, regardless of tax contributions.
She argued that this arrangement is unjust and undermines the efforts of UK citizens who consistently contribute to the system.
Badenoch also criticised the Labour government for recently rejecting a proposed Deportation Bill.
The bill had sought to cap immigration numbers, double the waiting period for accessing benefits and applying for citizenship from five to ten years, and prevent individuals who received public assistance from obtaining indefinite leave to remain. Additionally, it would have allowed the government to revoke settled status from immigrants convicted of crimes.
The proposed legislation, which was blocked, echoed earlier efforts to address immigration enforcement, such as the Rwanda deportation plan, which became entangled in prolonged legal battles.
She warned that such legal challenges — a phenomenon she referred to as “lawfare” — are increasingly being used to obstruct democratic policymaking. According to Badenoch, even unsuccessful court cases result in delays and financial costs that stall necessary reforms and erode public trust in government institutions.
Previous welfare reform plans, including proposals by former Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride that could have saved the UK £5 billion, were also abandoned after legal pushback, she added.
To evaluate whether further immigration and welfare reforms can be implemented within existing legal frameworks, the Conservative Party has established a commission led by Lord Wolfson KC and Shadow Solicitor General Helen Grant. Their primary task is to determine if these changes can be made while remaining a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
If the commission finds that significant reforms are not possible under the ECHR, Badenoch says the UK may need to consider withdrawing from the treaty — but only after careful deliberation to ensure core human rights remain protected.
She concluded by warning that continued legal obstruction risks weakening the country, and reaffirmed her party’s commitment to defending British values, democracy, and fairness for its citizens.
