The New Statesman: politics and culture Reform's deportations & Your Party's implosion
Sep 22, 2025
Ethan Croft, a political correspondent at the New Statesman, shares insights on Reform's controversial immigration policies. He discusses Nigel Farage's plan to abolish indefinite leave to remain and its potential impact on various communities. Joining him is Megan Kenyon, also from the New Statesman, who delves into the chaos within 'Your Party.' She highlights the recent tensions between Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn, exploring the challenges of leadership versus grassroots participation.
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Abolishing ILR Would Affect Millions
- Reform proposes abolishing indefinite leave to remain and may rescind existing ILR, risking deportations for people who already qualified.
- Ethan Croft warns this would make it much harder to become a citizen and could affect up to 1.7 million people.
What Indefinite Leave To Remain Actually Means
- Indefinite leave to remain grants residence without time limits and covers family, work and asylum routes.
- Reform's proposals include raising salary thresholds and English tests, making citizenship routes longer and less clear.
The 'Boris Wave' Drives Policy Shifts
- The 'Boris wave' describes nearly four million post-Brexit arrivals after relaxed immigration rules under Boris Johnson.
- Many came via safe routes (Ukraine, Hong Kong) and work visas, prompting parties to consider stricter ILR qualification times.