Migrants will be banned from claiming welfare benefits until they are British citizens under Shabana Mahmood’s asylum crackdown which aims at forcing foreign nationals to earn their right to remain in the UK.
Under the current system, migrants are eligible for benefits once they gain settled status, usually taking five years.
But, the Home Secretary’s crackdown would see migrants face up to 30 years just to be granted the same status.
They will then be required to apply for citizenship before they are allowed to claim benefits – which could take another one to three years.
It comes amid growing concern at the record 1.3 million migrants who are now claiming benefits in the UK.
That is up 6.7 per cent on the previous year and almost 50 per cent up since 2022.
The total welfare bill is estimated to rise from £313billion in 2024/25 to £373billion by the end of the decade – that is despite a growing black hole in the public finances.
Ms Mahmood’s crackdown will see foreign workers in low-skilled jobs, claiming benefits, forced to wait up to 25 years for indefinite leave to remain.
Illegal migrants will have to wait up to three decades to secure permanent leave to stay in the country.
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Keir Starmer insists 620 is still ‘important’ despite Donald Trump’s absence
Sir Keir Starmer is welcomed by a South African official as he arrives in the nation for the G20 summit
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PA
The Prime Minister has said the G20 is still a “really important” forum for British business even in light of Donald Trump’s boycott of the international summit in South Africa.
In response to what he makes of the US President’s absence, Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Trump had “set out his position”.
Sir Keir added that he believed it was “really important” for him to be at the summit “to talk to other partners and allies so we can get on with the discussions around global issues that have to be addressed, and do have an impact back at home”.
“But also to take the opportunity face to face to further the deals that I want to do for our country,” he said.
It comes as Sir Keir has faced criticism domestically for how often he is overseas and his focus on international affairs.
South Africa is the 45th country the Prime Minister has visited since taking office last year.