Reform UK has set out plans to close a "rip-off" migration loophole and save the taxpayer some £230billion.
The loophole - dubbed the "Boriswave" thanks to the amount of people who entered the country after the Tories' 2021 "New Plan for Immigration", sees migrants given access to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in just five years.
ILR affords migrants the chance to live, work, and study indefinitely in the UK, as well as access to the NHS without the immigration health surcharge, and eligibility for certain public funds.
Between 2026 and 2030, thanks at least 800,000 of them will qualify for ILR, Zia Yusuf warned last night as he said Britain was "on the brink of fiscal disaster".
In a landmark policy announcement - following on from proposals by the Adam Smith Institute last year - Mr Yusuf confirmed Reform will abolish ILR completely - including rescinding it retrospectively - and close loopholes to ensure only UK citizens receive welfare or social housing.
In a damning assessment of where the Boriswave would leave the public finances, Reform's Doge chief explained: "Overall, the Boriswave allowed 3.8 million new people in the country on long term visas (96 per cent to non-EU nationals), of which 2 million are on the path to ILR.
"The Boriswave will start to be eligible for ILR from January 1, 2026. Estimates suggest that at least 800,000 of these individuals will be granted ILR under current rules at a total lifetime cost to the British taxpayer of £234 billion.
"That's four times our entire defence budget, double our education budget, and 12 times our police budget."
He also hailed how the changes - under a potential Reform Government - would lead to hundreds of thousands of people losing their settled status in the UK.
But he said that would be carried out "on a staggered and orderly basis to allow businesses to train British workers to replace them".
Many of those who will lose their leave to remain are entirely dependent on the welfare state and will leave voluntarily upon losing access to benefits, Mr Yusuf continued.
Those that don’t will be subject to immigration enforcement as part of our mass deportation programme - Operation Restoring Justice.
Deputy leader Richard Tice jabbed: "If you come to Britain to work, then work, don't rip us off."
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Second runway at Gatwick Airport greenlit by Government
A second runway at Gatwick Airport has been given the green light by the Government.
The northern runway, which already exists and runs parallel to the main one at Gatwick, is currently out of use as it has been deemed too close.
the £2.2billion expansion project will see it moved 12 metres north in order for both to be used at the same time.
It would facilitate 100,000 extra flights a year, 14,000 extra jobs and £1billion extra each year for the economy.
No public money will go towards the expansion which could be operational by 2029.
Islamophobia definition could deter police, Lord Hermer adviser says
The Labour Party's Islamophobia definition could hamper police, particularly with investigating Muslim offenders, according to an adviser to Lord Harmer.
Tom Cross KC, a member of a panel which acts for the Attorney General, added that free speech in the workplace and in public could be restricted under Labour's plans.
A definition in reaction to the rise in anti-Muslim hate incident has seen a working group, headed by former Tory Attorney General Dominic Grieve, set up.
Mr Cross said it was "reasonable" to "suppose that such a definition" could be used to object to police and security services to investigate persons who are Muslim for criminal offences.
He added that it could be used to rewrite hate crime and harassment laws.
Zarah Sultana calls off legal action as she declares she is 'determined to reconcile' with Jeremy Corbyn
Zarah Sultana's statement
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Zarah Sultana has declared she will "not be pursuing" legal proceedings despite allegations which she claimed were "baseless and unsubstantiated".
The Coventry South MP said she had spoken with "comrades across our movement" and came to the conclusion that for the "sake of the party, and as an act of good faith" she will pull proceedings.
She acknowledged "many people are feeling demoralised" which "I share".
"I am determined to reconcile and move forward," Ms Sultana said.
Cross with the Conservatives but queasy at Reform... Will the Lib Dems stake claim to Middle England? Analysis by Katherine Forster
Sir Ed Davey told GB News that the Lib Dems are now the 'patriotic party'
| GETTYFlags everywhere. “Land of Hope and Glory” being sung with gusto. An audience on their feet, Union Jacks in each hand.
The Last Night of the Proms? No. This was the Liberal Democrats at their conference in Bournemouth.
Sir Ed Davey told GB News that the Lib Dems are the “patriotic party”. That they want “to build on the best in Britain” and that we should “be really proud” of being British.
And he launched a blistering attack on Reform leader Nigel Farage, whom he told Katherine Forster is “a plastic patriot” who “doesn’t love our country”.
Now, the Liberal Democrats say they are the “patriotic party”, and believe they can appeal to large swathes of Middle England where voters are still cross with the Conservatives but queasy at the prospect of Reform.
Wes Streeting and Israel's ex-Defence Minister trade social media pot-shots after PM recognises Palestine
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Israel's ex-Defence Minister Yoav Gallant traded social media pot-shots last night after Sir Keir Starmer confirmed he would be recognising Palestine at the UN this week.
Mr Gallant had blasted: "There will never be a Palestinian state.
"Starmer, the British Mandate ended 77 years ago. You should focus on the Islamist surge in the UK, not on Israel."
The Health Secretary - who won his seat last summer by just 500 votes against a pro-Gaza independent candidate - said in response: "That first sentence vindicates the judgement of our Prime Minister.
"Recognition isn’t a victory for Hamas. It’s a defeat for those who do not see the lives of Israelis and Palestinians as being of equal worth."
READ THE FULL STORY ON ISRAEL'S REACTION TO THE PM'S PLEDGE HERE
IN-DEPTH: What is the 'Boriswave'?
Boris Johnson's Government let in millions of migrants to Britain, nicknamed the 'Boriswave'
| PAAt the start of this year, the Adam Smith Institute warned that 2025 would be Britain's last chance to avoid a long-term migration catastrophe of Boris Johnson's making.
Senior Tories had hailed how leaving the EU would let Britain be "immigration liberals" - and attract the world's best and brightest.
But millions then arrived - and warnings have risen since that hundreds of thousands of these migrants will drain Britain's finances.
With Reform UK now pledging to reverse the Boriswave, GB News members can read the full story on the "ticking time bomb" - as well as why Boris Johnson himself "managed to escape scrutiny" for it.