Kemi Badenoch proposes stricter rules for British citizenship, advocating for a 15-year residency requirement. She argues for a focus on those who contribute to the UK economy and have a meaningful connection to the country
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has sparked a debate over immigration policy by proposing that immigrants should be eligible for British citizenship only after 15 years of residence in the UK, up from the current six years.
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Badenoch’s suggestion is part of her broader agenda to reform immigration laws, which she sees as a means to ensure that British citizenship is reserved for those with a “meaningful connection” to the country.
In a recent BBC interview, Badenoch also stated that indefinite leave to remain (ILR), a key step toward citizenship, should not be granted to individuals with criminal records or those who have relied on benefits or social housing.
She emphasized that citizenship should be considered a privilege, not an automatic right.
Labour minister Angela Eagle quickly criticized Badenoch’s stance, accusing the Conservative Party of years of “shameful failure” on immigration and questioning the credibility of their latest proposals.
Currently, immigrants can apply for ILR after working in the UK for five years. Once granted ILR, they can apply for British citizenship after just 12 months.
However, the Conservatives propose extending the ILR waiting period to 10 years, with an additional five-year wait before citizenship applications can be made.
The party aims to introduce these changes by amending the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill in Parliament next week.
Badenoch argued that the current system has created a “conveyor belt” to citizenship, leading to an influx of new citizens and putting pressure on public services.
She suggested that the new measures would help ensure that immigrants are “net contributors to the economy” and avoid becoming reliant on the state.
However, she did not specify by how much she expected immigration numbers to decrease.
Last year, Badenoch admitted that the Conservative Party had “got it wrong” on immigration, acknowledging that net migration had reached a record high of 906,000.
While she supports a hard cap on migration, she has refrained from stating a specific target, citing that it should be flexible depending on the context.
In response to rising political competition, particularly from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, Badenoch acknowledged that her party needed to rebuild trust with the public and that it was natural for voters to look for alternatives.
