As her party’s popularity wanes, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has announced her first major policy – and it’s looking like a desperate move but we want to know what you think.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has announced her plan to crackdown on migrants who attempt to settle in Britain in a desperate attempt to win back past voters who have switched allegiance to Reform UK.
Her suggestion is that it should be made more difficult for migrants to gain British citizenship, particularly for those who have previously claimed benefits.
The suggestion has so far been hit by criticism from the Labour government, with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commenting: “I can’t take seriously a single word they say. They said all sorts of things and they quadrupled net migration in the space of four years.
“They totally lost control of our border.” She added: “You’ll forgive me if I don’t give much credibility to anything the Conservatives say.”
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In addition to banning those who have claimed benefits for applying for indefinite leave to remain in Britain, Kemi Badenoch suggested that anybody who has a criminal record should also not be allowed British citizenship.
However, the main issue with the Tory leader’s policy suggestion is that most migrants are already prevented from claiming benefits or accessing social housing, particularly those who are in Britain on a work visa.
Ms Badenoch also suggested extending the length of time someone would need to stay in the UK for to receive indefinite leave to remain, from the current five years to 10 years. Anybody with indefinite leave to remain would then need to wait a further five years to apply for citizenship.
More opposition to Ms Badenoch has come from the Liberal Democrats, with home affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart commenting: “Once again the Conservatives are making headline-grabbing promises that they have no intention of keeping and the public simply don’t trust.”
So, we want to know – should migrants claiming benefits be banned from citizenship? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.