Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed introducing a new law that would require immigrants to wait ten years before becoming eligible to claim state benefits or apply for a British passport.
In a recent article for the Daily Mail, Badenoch, who was born in the UK to Nigerian parents, urged the government to limit access to public benefits for immigrants until they have lived in the country for a decade.
Immigration Reform: A Matter of Fairness
Badenoch framed the issue as one of fairness and accountability. “Britain increasingly appears to favour those who break the rules, arriving illegally and then disregarding the customs and values of the country,” she wrote. “Meanwhile, those who work hard and follow the law are left to cover the cost.”
She highlighted the billions spent on housing asylum seekers in hotels as a well-known public concern. Less understood, she argued, is that low-paid immigrants and refugees can currently qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after just five years—granting them access to social housing, Universal Credit, and other benefits, regardless of their tax contributions.
“This policy undermines the efforts of British citizens who have contributed to the system,” she stated. “It is fundamentally unfair, and reform is essential.”
The Blocked Deportation Bill
Badenoch also criticized the Labour Party for voting against a proposed Deportation Bill that sought to address these issues. The bill aimed to:
Cap legal immigration,
Extend the benefits and citizenship waiting period from five to ten years,
Prevent individuals who had claimed benefits from obtaining ILR,
And allow the revocation of settled status for immigrants convicted of serious crimes.
She argued that the bill was intended to safeguard the integrity of the welfare system and ensure that immigration processes are fair to British citizens.
The Threat of ‘Lawfare’
Badenoch warned that legal challenges have repeatedly blocked efforts to reform immigration and welfare systems. She cited the example of the controversial plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, which became entangled in protracted legal battles.
She referred to this obstruction as “lawfare”—the use of legal mechanisms to frustrate the democratic process. Even when legal challenges fail, Badenoch argued, they delay progress and waste public resources, undermining trust in government institutions.
A Legal Commission to Examine Reform
To address these challenges, a new commission—led by Lord Wolfson KC and shadow solicitor general Helen Grant—has been established. Its mandate is to assess whether the UK can enact meaningful immigration and welfare reforms while remaining a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
If the commission concludes that the ECHR is an obstacle to essential reforms, Badenoch suggests that withdrawal from the convention may be necessary—though only with great care to uphold fundamental rights.
A Call to Prioritize British Citizens
Badenoch concluded with a call to uphold British values, protect public resources, and restore fairness to the immigration system.
“The greater danger lies in allowing lawfare to weaken the nation—making it less fair, less safe, and less democratic. We must ensure that the interests of British citizens come first,” she wrote.
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