Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

Migrants to UK will not get benefits until becoming citizens under new plans

Shabana Mahmood told the Commons: ‘To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege.’
Shabana Mahmood told the Commons: ‘To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege.’ Photograph: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters

People who migrate to the UK will be eligible for benefits and social housing only when they become British citizens, and those who arrive by small boat could wait up to 30 years for residency, under new plans outlined by Shabana Mahmood.

The plans could result in migrants only becoming eligible for benefits and social housing if they first become British citizens, rather than upon being granted settlement, as is currently the case.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.