By Selvan Durairaj | World Politics | WFY Magazine, October Edition 2025
Reform UK’s ILR Proposal: What It Means for Indians in Britain
A brewing storm in Britain
The United Kingdom’s Indian diaspora has long been a pillar of stability, success, and contribution. Yet today, thousands of Indians settled in the UK find themselves at the centre of a political debate that questions not only their future but also Britain’s sense of fairness and inclusivity. The catalyst? Nigel Farage and his Reform UK party’s proposal to scrap the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), a status that grants migrants the right to live and work in Britain indefinitely.
For most migrants, ILR represents the culmination of years of hard work, taxes, and cultural integration. For Indians, it is also a delicate compromise: the ability to remain rooted in the UK without giving up their Indian citizenship, since India does not permit dual nationality. Now, Reform UK’s new immigration blueprint threatens to rewrite that understanding.
Behind the political slogans and populist speeches lies a complex story, one that mixes economics, identity, and electoral anxiety.
I. Understanding ILR, Britain’s invisible backbone
The Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) system allows migrants who have lawfully lived and worked in the UK for five years (or ten in some cases) to stay permanently. ILR holders can work, study, own property, and access most public services, though they cannot vote in national elections.
According to Home Office data, there were over 390,000 ILR grants in the decade ending 2024, with Indians forming one of the largest groups of recipients. In 2023 alone, more than 48,000 Indian nationals either received ILR or transitioned from work visas, particularly from technology, healthcare, and education sectors.
ILR is not a loophole or a welfare gateway; it is a contract of trust between the migrant and the state. It recognises contribution and continuity. It assures the worker who pays taxes, buys homes, and educates children in Britain that their place in society is legitimate.
II. Reform UK’s plan, the fine print
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has built its campaign around slogans of “taking back control” and “fixing broken immigration.” The latest twist, scrapping ILR, marks a dramatic expansion of that rhetoric.
Under the proposal, migrants will no longer be able to apply for ILR after five years of residence. Instead, they must reapply every five years for a visa extension that meets stricter conditions, including advanced English proficiency, higher salary thresholds, and proof of self-sufficiency.
Most controversially, the policy is retrospective, meaning it will apply to those who already hold ILR. The right to permanence, previously earned, could now be conditional.
Farage has described ILR as “a scam,” suggesting that long-term residents exploit welfare benefits. Yet studies by the Migration Observatory at Oxford University show that immigrants contribute more in taxes than they claim in benefits, especially those from India, who have among the highest employment and education rates in the UK.
In economic terms, the Reform UK proposal does not fix a system, it dismantles a foundation.
III. The Indian reality, numbers behind the faces
Indians form one of the most successful and integrated communities in Britain. As of 2024, there were approximately 1.7 million people of Indian origin in the UK, making up 2.5% of the population. They are disproportionately represented in skilled sectors, medicine, IT, engineering, academia, and business.
- Around 20,000 Indian doctors and nurses work in the NHS, representing nearly 10% of its medical workforce.
- Indian-owned businesses contribute an estimated £55 billion annually to the British economy, employing over 100,000 people.
- Indian students comprise 23% of all international students in UK universities, the largest single nationality group.
Yet behind these numbers are families whose legal status is now at risk. For many, ILR is the only bridge between two identities, professional success in the UK and emotional roots in India.
If the Reform UK plan is implemented, these individuals may face renewed visa applications, higher fees, or even deportation proceedings for technical lapses. The uncertainty has triggered quiet panic.
IV. The dual-citizenship dilemma
India’s refusal to allow dual citizenship creates a unique vulnerability. For migrants from other countries, the natural path after ILR is British citizenship. For Indians, this decision comes at a cost , relinquishing their Indian passport.
For years, ILR provided the perfect balance. It allowed Indians to live indefinitely in the UK, travel freely, and retain their Indian nationality. Now, with that status under threat, many are being forced into a painful choice: abandon Indian citizenship or risk instability.
The Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) scheme, though useful for travel and property rights, does not replace the emotional and legal significance of full citizenship. Losing the Indian passport often feels like losing a part of identity.
V. Economics or populism?
At first glance, Reform UK’s proposal seems to address economic concerns, the cost of welfare, housing, and jobs. But data tells another story.
- The Office for National Statistics (ONS) notes that immigrants are net contributors to the UK economy. Migrants from India pay significantly more in taxes than they draw from public funds.
- The British Chambers of Commerce has repeatedly stated that the UK’s labour shortages in technology, healthcare, and logistics could worsen without skilled migration.
- The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that reducing skilled migration could cut GDP growth by up to 1.5% annually in the long run.
If Reform UK’s target were purely economic, the policy would make little sense. Instead, it appears aimed at cultural and electoral optics, capitalising on anti-immigration sentiment that has persisted since Brexit.
The language of “control” plays well in post-industrial regions where economic decline has been politically linked to immigration. Yet, it ignores the reality that migrants often revitalise these very areas, opening small businesses, working in healthcare, and paying local taxes.
VI. The Brexit shadow, lessons unlearned
Farage’s Reform UK is a rebranded extension of the Brexit Party, which campaigned to leave the European Union on the promise of reclaiming sovereignty and reducing migration. Nearly a decade later, the results are visible:
- Britain’s GDP growth lags behind most G7 nations.
- Inflation and labour shortages have soared, particularly in agriculture and hospitality.
- The country’s trade deficit has widened, while immigration numbers remain high because the UK still needs workers in essential sectors.
In other words, the Brexit dream of control never materialised. Yet, instead of learning from that failure, Reform UK now targets a different demographic, long-settled migrants, many of whom have spent decades contributing quietly to Britain’s prosperity.
This shift signals a broader trend in Western politics: weaponising identity when economics falter. Migrants become convenient scapegoats, even when the data exonerates them.
VII. The legal maze, can ILR really be revoked?
Legal scholars point out that removing ILR retrospectively would raise serious constitutional and human rights concerns. The principle of legitimate expectation, a cornerstone of British administrative law, protects individuals from arbitrary policy reversals that destroy established rights.
Furthermore, ILR holders are not temporary visitors; they are residents who have built families, businesses, and careers based on the assurance of permanence. Revoking that retrospectively could be challenged under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (right to private and family life).
While a future Reform UK government might attempt legislative changes, the courts could strike them down as disproportionate or discriminatory. The policy, even if politically expedient, is legally precarious.
VIII. Community response, caution and concern
Across Britain’s Indian community centres, temples, and WhatsApp groups, conversations are turning anxious. Many ILR holders are reportedly applying for British citizenship pre-emptively, unwilling to risk a sudden policy change.
Community organisations in Leicester, Birmingham, and Southall have begun holding information sessions to help families understand their legal options. Lawyers have noted a spike in citizenship consultations and visa transfer queries.
However, others are taking a wait-and-watch approach, convinced that the proposal is more campaign rhetoric than policy reality. They recall earlier waves of fear, Brexit, student visa restrictions, and NHS surcharges, where the rhetoric softened once political power demanded pragmatism.
Still, the sense of vulnerability remains. For a community that built its future through stability, even uncertainty feels like betrayal.
IX. Why this matters beyond Britain
The ILR debate is not confined to the UK. It echoes a global pattern where migration policy has become a tool of populist politics.
In the United States, skilled Indian professionals faced uncertainty under visa reforms and green card backlogs.
In Canada, rising anti-immigration sentiment has led to tighter provincial nominee criteria.
In the Gulf, migrant dependency continues without permanent residency rights.
Each instance reveals the same paradox: countries rely on migrants to sustain their economies but often marginalise them politically.
The Indian diaspora, now more than 32 million strong worldwide, is both an economic force and a political target. The ILR issue in Britain may well become a litmus test for how liberal democracies treat long-term non-citizen residents in the decades ahead.
X. The moral question, what kind of Britain?
For Britain, the ILR controversy cuts to the heart of its post-imperial identity. The country that once prided itself on common law, fairness, and decency risks turning inward under populist pressure.
The irony is hard to miss: the same nation that celebrates Rishi Sunak as its first Indian-origin Prime Minister now toys with policies that could unsettle thousands of Indian families.
At stake is not just immigration law but the moral architecture of citizenship. If residency and contribution no longer guarantee dignity, then the social contract fractures. Britain’s reputation as a place where hard work secures stability would suffer, not only among migrants but also among businesses and allies who rely on predictability.
XI. Possible solutions, policy, diplomacy, and preparedness
- Legal challenge preparedness
Indian community associations and legal groups should collaborate to study constitutional remedies. Collective representation can deter unilateral enforcement. - Diplomatic engagement
The Indian government, through its High Commission in London, must seek formal clarification from British authorities. India remains one of Britain’s top trading partners, a fact that gives it diplomatic leverage. - Information transparency
Many ILR holders remain unaware of how vulnerable their status could become. Consistent public education through diaspora media, community legal clinics, and local councils is essential. - Encouraging early citizenship
While dual citizenship remains off-limits, applying for British citizenship where practical may offer protection. Those who can retain OCI status can still maintain strong links with India. - Community cohesion
Instead of panic, a collective voice grounded in data and dignity is crucial. Indian-origin MPs, councillors, and professionals must amplify reasoned debate rather than fear.
XII. The economic irony
If implemented, Reform UK’s ILR policy could backfire economically.
- The UK’s tech sector employs over 70,000 Indian professionals, many on skilled worker routes leading to ILR.
- Revoking their stability would prompt an exodus to more welcoming markets like Canada and Australia, both of which actively court Indian talent.
- The NHS, already strained by staff shortages, would face further crisis if Indian doctors and nurses choose not to renew long-term contracts.
The Centre for Economic Performance estimates that reducing skilled migration by 20% could shrink the British economy by £30–40 billion annually. Populism, it seems, is an expensive ideology.
XIII. A community at the crossroads
For Britain’s Indian community, the moment is sobering but not unfamiliar. The history of migration, from the 1960s East African Asians to today’s IT professionals, has always been a story of resilience. The community knows how to survive political headwinds with quiet determination.
Yet this time, the challenge cuts deeper. It is not about arrival, but belonging. Not about opportunity, but continuity.
The coming months will reveal whether Britain chooses pragmatism over populism, inclusion over isolation. For now, the diaspora watches, waits, and prepares, once again proving that its roots run deeper than any political storm.
Epilogue, what this means for the world
As global migration debates intensify, Britain’s ILR controversy serves as a warning. Democracies that build prosperity on the labour and intellect of migrants cannot afford to treat them as expendable.
For the Indian diaspora, often described as the world’s most successful migrant community, this is not just about visas or politics. It is about respect, reciprocity, and the right to belong where one contributes.
Nigel Farage may have ignited a new firestorm, but in that blaze, Britain must decide what kind of nation it wants to be, one that shuts its doors out of fear, or one that opens its heart to fairness.