Ilegal Migrants could cost UK taxpayers £234bn if allowed to settle in the UK, the Reason Will Shock You
Kemi Badenoch, a leader in the Conservative Party, has spoken out about immigration. She says she not only understands why people are upset about the high number of immigrants coming to the UK, but she feels the same way. She believes the country cannot handle the Labour Party’s more relaxed approach to immigration, which she thinks would make the situation worse.
A report from a group called the Centre for Policy Studies has raised concerns. They say that if around 800,000 migrants are allowed to stay in the UK permanently, it could end up costing taxpayers a huge amount of money—£234 billion over many years. This would mean every household in the UK might have to pay an extra £8,200 to cover the costs. The report also points out that between January 2021 and June 2024, over two million visas were given to migrants, and many of them could apply to stay in the UK for good.
Kemi Badenoch wants to make it harder for migrants to settle in the UK. Right now, migrants can apply to stay permanently after five years, but she wants to increase that waiting time to ten years. She also thinks that migrants who claim benefits, like financial support or housing help, should not be allowed to stay in the UK permanently. She says the Conservative Party will push for a vote in Parliament to make these changes and hopes Labour MPs will support it because many people in the UK feel strongly about this issue.
Chris Philp, who speaks for the Labour Party on home affairs, agrees that it’s unfair for British taxpayers to support migrants who haven’t contributed much to the economy. He says Labour has a plan to make sure only those who come to the UK to work and earn enough money can stay. Those who don’t work or earn very little should not be allowed to stay and should be required to leave. He says Labour will push the government to adopt their plan.
A researcher from the Centre for Policy Studies, Karl Williams, says that many of the migrants who have come to the UK recently are unlikely to contribute much to the economy. However, they will soon be able to apply to stay in the UK long-term, which would give them access to benefits like healthcare, social housing, and financial support, just like British citizens. He thinks this could be a problem for the country.
Recent numbers show that net migration—the number of people coming to the UK minus those leaving—reached 906,000 in the year up to June 2023. If this continues, the UK population could grow to 72.5 million by 2032, with nearly five million people expected to move to the UK in the next ten years. Chris Philp says these numbers are too high and warns that high immigration could put a lot of pressure on communities. He worries that some parts of the country could become divided, which would harm society.
Labour has criticized the Conservative Party for losing control of immigration over the past 14 years. They point out that net migration has risen to nearly a million, and the number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats has increased. Labour says the Conservatives have failed to manage immigration properly and have no credibility on the issue.
The Home Office, which is responsible for immigration, says the high levels of migration seen in recent years are unacceptable. They say they are working on a plan to reduce immigration and fix the system. They plan to publish a detailed proposal soon that will link immigration rules with the country’s needs for skills and workers, aiming to grow the UK workforce and reduce reliance on foreign labor.
