Taxpayers face ‘astronomical’ £200BILLION bill ‘to cover cost of mass migration’ with families paying £8,200 each after post-Brexit influx_Nhy
Taxpayers could face an ‘astronomical’ bill of more than £200billion for mass migration as hundreds of thousands of low-skilled workers settle in the UK, a think tank warned today.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch warned voters face paying an ‘astronomical sum’ if there is no change to residency rules that allow legal arrivals to claim indefinite leave to remain (ILR) within five years.
It came after the Center for Policy Studies found that between 2021 and 2024 over two million visas were issued to people who can apply for ILR before the end of the decade.
It estimates that more than 800,000 will do so, with many working in low-skilled jobs and others coming as dependents of workers who may not work at all.
It estimated the cost of this number coming as £234billion in terms of use of services like benefits and social housing.
Mrs Badenoch, who this week set out a Tory plan to overhaul the immigration system, said: ‘This new research shows that, if the Government stubbornly refuses to adopt our plan, British taxpayers could be lumbered with an astronomic cost.
‘The country simply can’t afford the Labour Party‘s lax approach to immigration.
‘I sincerely hope that Labour MPs recognise the strength of public feeling on this issue. I don’t just understand the anger at the levels of immigration, I share it.’
Mrs Badenoch, who this week set out a Tory plan to overhaul the immigration system, said: ‘This new research shows that, if the Government stubbornly refuses to adopt our plan, British taxpayers could be lumbered with an astronomic cost.
Last month it was revealed the UK population is set to hit 72.5million by mid-2032 – overtaking France – entirely due to five million-strong net immigration .
The level of net migration is estimated to average 340,000 per year from mid-2028 onwards – which would be lower than the recent eye-watering record of 906,000. This year the ONS believes the level will be just under 631,000.
Ms Badenoch has made reinventing the Tories one of her main jobs as leader. However the findings may be embarrassing as the party was in power when most of the millions of visas were handed out.
Last week she unveiled plans to tighten of the rules that allow migrants who arrive on work visas to settle permanently.
The period before migrants can claim ILR would be doubled from five years to 10 and people will have to show they are earning enough to support themselves.
Under Mrs Badenoch’s first major policy announcement as Tory leader, applicants would face stringent new conditions before the right to settle is granted, including demonstrating that they have never claimed benefits or used social housing.
They must also show that their income is high enough to ensure they and their families will be ‘net contributors’ to the economy rather than a burden.
Those with criminal convictions will automatically be barred from applying.
Last month it was revealed the UK population is set to hit 72.5million by mid-2032 – overtaking France – entirely due to five million-strong net immigration.
Official projections show numbers are due to rise from 67.6million in mid-2022, even though deaths will completely offset births.
The level of net migration is estimated to average 340,000 per year from mid-2028 onwards – which would be lower than the recent eye-watering record of 906,000. This year the ONS believes the level will be just under 631,000.
That suggests there will be net inflows of 4.9million over a decade. The figures also confirm that the UK overtook France in terms of population over the last couple of years, and will be around 3million bigger by 2032.
Karl Williams, CPS research director, said: ‘As our previous research has shown, a significant proportion of recent migration to the UK has been people who are very unlikely to be fiscal contributors.
‘What is less well understood is that in the very near future they will be eligible to apply to remain in the UK long-term, gaining access to the NHS, social housing, Universal Credit and other benefits on the same terms as British citizens.
‘Changes to the settlements offered to migrants already in the UK will need to be handled sensitively, but the fact remains that the Government has very little grasp of the impact a significant increase in Indefinite Leave to Remain grants will have on the public purse – likely costing the taxpayer billions in the years to come.
‘The purpose of the immigration system should be to do what is best for Britain’s long-term interests and the Conservative Party is right to call for a pause in ILR eligibility to give the country time to debate and decide who we want to put on a pathway to citizenship.’
