NIGEL Farage’s plan to axe indefinite leave to remain (ILR) has been slammed as “grotesque”.
"It would rip families and communities apart, with people forced to leave loved ones, jobs, and so much more,” Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman told The National.
The Reform UK leader wants to abolish ILR, for which migrants can currently apply after five years, and force them to renew their visa every five years.
Applicants would have to meet certain criteria, including a higher salary threshold and better standard of English.
They would have to have lived in the UK for seven years, up from five, and there would be tighter restrictions on bringing spouses and children to the UK.
It’s a move that has led to backlash and fears that – if implemented – it would lead to tens of thousands of deportations.
Reaction to the move on social media, for example, economist James Meadway brought up how it would impact his wife.
Abolishing ILR is a revolting proposal - particularly the threat to do so retrospectively. A personal example: my wife, who has ILR & has studied, lived, worked here since 08 would be under threat of deportation. We have a son here. There are hundreds of thousands like us. https://t.co/X7t1E1dxF9
— James Meadway (@meadwaj) September 22, 2025
“Abolishing ILR is a revolting proposal - particularly the threat to do so retrospectively,” he said on X.
“A personal example: my wife, who has ILR & has studied, lived, worked here since 2008 would be under threat of deportation. We have a son here. There are hundreds of thousands like us.”
Chapman, meanwhile, said: “Many people already with ILR have been here for years: they've made their lives here, they contribute to communities, pay taxes, support our public services. It goes beyond anything that even the most racist Tory governments have done.
"The current system is already harsh and unforgiving and consigns families and individuals to totally avoidable poverty by banning them from claiming social security and support at a time when the cost of living is higher than ever.”
She added: "A lot of people are really concerned about the radicalisation we are seeing in UK politics, with the Tories, Labour, and Reform competing to see who can be the nastiest while mobs surround hotels, intimidating those trapped inside by a cruel and inhumane system.
"We can and must do better than this, and in my head and my heart I believe that Scotland would. With polls suggesting Reform could form the next government it's vital that all progressive parties, MPs and MSPs unite to ensure that Scotland has the powers to set our own welcoming and humane immigration policies."
The SNP, meanwhile, said Nigel Farage’s plan for mass deportations is his latest “desperate and despicable attempt to blame migrants for the economic state of broken Britain”, warning that his plans would “threaten the collapse of our NHS and would crash the economy all over again”.
The SNP’s Westminster depute leader, Pete Wishart, said: “Nigel Farage’s latest plan for mass deportations is one more desperate and despicable attempt to blame migrants for the economic state of broken Britain. Farage's plans would threaten the collapse of our NHS and would crash the economy all over again.
“Instead of attacking migrants who staff our NHS, contribute to our economy and strengthen our society - the truth that Westminster politicians refuse to face is that Brexit broke Britain and Farage was the key architect of that disaster.”
He added: “It is shameful that instead of calling out Farage, the Labour Party and Keir Starmer are determined to follow him. They followed Farage on Brexit and they are now following him on immigration.
“The Labour Party would do well to listen to their former leader Neil Kinnock instead of racing to replicate Nigel Farage and Reform. Neil Kinnock’s significant intervention should serve as a wake-up call to the Labour Party, but I fear Keir Starmer won’t listen and that he is already locked in to following Farage.
“With independence, Scotland could rid itself of Westminster’s race to the bottom and deliver a bespoke migration policy that suits Scotland's needs. Instead of a Farage future under Westminster control, Scotland could choose a different and better future with the fresh start of independence.”
