Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, has formally opposed the government’s potential exemption for two million migrants from a proposed policy to extend the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) qualification period from five to 10 years. In a letter to the Home Secretary, Badenoch argued that the current five-year threshold is insufficient and that permanent residency should be reserved for those providing sustained economic contributions. She warned that granting easier access to residency for low-skilled workers risks placing further pressure on the UK welfare system and public finances, urging the government to maintain stricter immigration reforms.