Overview
- Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said there has been no change to the February plan, which proposed tougher ILR eligibility including bars for benefit claimants and some offenders and a longer qualifying period.
- A Conservative spokesman reaffirmed that the party’s confirmed policy is to restrict access to benefits for anyone who is not a British citizen.
- Philp indicated any ILR changes would apply only to migrants who arrived since 2021, narrowing the scope compared with his May draft bill that allowed revocation based on income or benefit claims.
- Shadow housing secretary James Cleverly said the party is not pursuing retrospective changes, rejecting removal of ILR from people who already have it.
- Katie Lam’s remarks about cultural coherence drew internal backlash and attacks from Labour and Reform UK, intensifying pressure for the forthcoming policy clarification.