Indefinite Leave to Remain: The Conservative Party’s Planned Changes to Immigration Rules Explained

The Conservative Party has outlined proposals that would make significant changes to the rules for people living legally in the UK with Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Key Policy Points:

If elected, the Conservatives plan to give the government powers to remove ILR status and deport people in certain circumstances. Under the proposals, this could apply to individuals who:

• Claim benefits,

• Commit a crime, or

• Have an income below £38,700 for six months or more.

According to party representatives, the goal is to ensure that those who stay in the UK are “net contributors” — meaning they pay more in taxes than they receive in public support.

Exceptions and Unclear Details

A spokesperson confirmed that state pension recipients would be excluded from the policy. However, it remains unclear whether this exemption would extend to people receiving statutory maternity pay or shared parental leave. Officials said further work would be needed to define the details and avoid “unfairness” in individual cases.

Party Context and Reaction

The comments came after Conservative MP Katie Lam said that many legally settled people might need to lose their ILR status to help the UK remain “culturally coherent.”

A spokesperson for Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch said Lam’s remarks were “broadly in line” with Conservative Party policy, although some parts had been “taken out of context.”

The party argues that immigration levels have been too high under successive governments and that it wants to “stop the conveyor belt to British citizenship.”

Criticism and Unanswered Questions

Critics have questioned the fairness and practicality of changing ILR rules retrospectively, as many people with ILR have lived and worked in the UK for years believing their status was permanent.

The party has not confirmed how the proposed income and benefits tests would apply in practice or how temporary changes in circumstances — such as illness, childcare, or job loss — would be treated.

Summary

In summary, the Conservative Party’s proposed immigration policy would allow the government to:

Revoke ILR from people who rely on benefits, commit crimes, or have low incomes, and

Prioritise individuals seen as “net contributors” to the UK economy.

The policy remains at the proposal stage, and many key details have yet to be clarified.