A family in New Brighton faces profound uncertainty after Reform UK announced plans to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), a key route to permanent settlement in the UK. Rory Wilmer and his wife Jana have already invested £28,000 in fees for a five-year residency process that could be upended by the proposed policy change.
Key Takeaways
- A New Brighton family expresses fear over Reform UK's proposal to scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
- The family has already spent £28,000 on fees for the current five-year path to permanent settlement for non-British family members.
- The policy, announced by party leader Nigel Farage, would require non-citizens to reapply for visas every five years.
- The family is concerned this could lead to their separation and is seeking assurances from the Labour Party not to alter the existing rules.
A Family's Life Rooted in Merseyside
Rory Wilmer, a British citizen, and his wife Jana, a national of the Czech Republic, settled in New Brighton, Wirral, in 2022. They moved to the area where Rory grew up to build their life and provide support for his elderly parents.
The couple, along with their three children, have since become fully integrated into the community. Their family includes two step-sons, aged 16 and 13, and their four-year-old son, who holds dual Czech-British citizenship.
Rory, who works for a creative agency, described their situation to the ECHO. "We are fully embedded in Merseyside life: we work full-time, pay taxes, run a business, and own our home," he said. This stability, however, now feels fragile.
The High Cost of Residency
Since their arrival, the family has navigated the UK's complex immigration system. They are currently on the five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain for Jana and her two older sons. This process has been financially demanding.
£28,000 in Fees and Charges
The Wilmer family has paid a total of £28,000 in various government fees and charges to comply with the legal requirements for the five-year path to settlement in the United Kingdom.
Rory expressed his frustration with the situation, which he links directly to Brexit. "We have already spent £28,000 on all the fees and charges, which is fine," he explained. "But it is frustrating that we have had to do this because of Brexit and because of Nigel Farage. We wouldn't have had to do this before Brexit as European citizens."
"So Nigel Farage helped to cause this for us and now he is giving this threat that they will just take it away from us. It is terrifying for our family." - Rory Wilmer
The family is approximately halfway through the five-year process, making the timing of Reform UK's announcement particularly distressing.
Reform UK's Proposal Explained
On Monday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage announced a policy that would abolish ILR if his party were to enter government. This status is the primary way for immigrants to gain permanent settlement in the UK, freeing them from restrictions on their stay and allowing them to work or study without limitation.
What is Indefinite Leave to Remain?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is an immigration status that allows a person to live, work, and study in the UK for as long as they like, without time limits. It is a crucial step towards applying for British citizenship and provides long-term security for non-British residents.
Mr. Farage stated the policy aims to prevent an estimated 800,000 people from becoming eligible for ILR between 2026 and 2030. Under the proposal, individuals would be required to reapply for visas every five years, facing stringent rules regarding salary, English language proficiency, and their ability to bring dependents to the UK.
When questioned, Mr. Farage did not deny that the policy could result in families being separated. The proposal has been widely condemned by critics as "abhorrent" and "unacceptable."
Concerns Over Future Immigration Policy
The announcement has left the Wilmer family and many others in a state of anxiety. Rory voiced his concern that the proposal is a political tactic that places families like his at risk.
"It is just a big dog whistle," he said. "The idea that you can be granted indefinite leave to remain and then they can come in and try and take that away and then we keep having to reapply, it is really worrying."
The family's worries extend beyond Reform UK. Rory is also concerned that the political pressure created by the announcement could influence the Labour Party to adopt stricter immigration policies.
"Our real fear is that Labour, under pressure at conference, might shift from the five-year route we entered on to a 10-year route, or otherwise move the goalposts for people who have already committed their savings and futures," he stated.
He described such a change as a "serious breach of trust with families who followed every rule, paid every fee, and made life-changing commitments based on the assurances given."
Rory has urged the Labour Party to provide clarity on its position. "I would ask Labour to make clear commitments: will they honour the five-year route for those who have already entered it, and not bow to pressure from Reform by shifting the goalposts?"
In response to Reform UK's policy, a Downing Street spokesperson framed the political choice as one between "national renewal" under Keir Starmer and "the path of division and decline which Reform wants to put the country on."