UK Immigration Crisis: Badenoch Urges Labour to Adopt Conservative Deportation Bill

Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the UK Conservative Party, has issued a strong call to action, urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour-led government to immediately adopt the Conservative Party’s newly proposed deportation bill as a measure to combat what she describes as an escalating immigration crisis.

In a video statement released via her official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Badenoch raised alarm over the projected rise in immigrant naturalisations, warning that, under current policies, up to two million immigrants could automatically acquire British citizenship by 2026. “That’s nearly twice the population of Birmingham,” she said, calling for swift and decisive action to curb what she framed as unchecked migration.

“From next year, two million immigrants could automatically claim British citizenship. That’s nearly twice the population of Birmingham. We’ve introduced a deportation bill because we are committed to bringing immigration down,” Badenoch stated.

The deportation bill, officially published earlier in the week, outlines a series of far-reaching immigration policy changes aimed at reducing both legal and illegal migration into the United Kingdom. The proposed legislation would:

• Mandate the immediate deportation of all foreign nationals convicted of crimes in the UK

• Introduce compulsory age verification for migrants to prevent age-related fraud in asylum claims

• Tighten visa eligibility requirements, particularly for work and family reunification visas

• Limit the applicability of the Human Rights Act in immigration cases, potentially curbing appeals based on humanitarian grounds

• Make asylum support repayable, a measure intended to discourage what the Conservatives describe as “economic migration” disguised as asylum seeking

• Disqualify migrants who rely on public benefits from obtaining permanent residency or citizenship

Badenoch positioned the bill as a crucial tool in restoring public confidence in the UK’s immigration system and safeguarding national resources. “Our country is a home, not a hotel,” she emphasized, accusing the Labour government of failing to address the pressures that rising migration levels place on housing, public services, and national security.

“Until that’s the law, we won’t fix it. Labour should adopt it now. It’s time to get tough. That’s what the Conservatives’ deportation bill delivers,” she said.

The Conservative Party's stance comes amid growing political tension over immigration, with public sentiment becoming increasingly divided. While some sectors of British society call for humane and inclusive immigration policies, others have expressed concern over border control, resource allocation, and national identity.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has yet to formally respond to Badenoch’s appeal. However, critics of the Conservative bill argue that some of its provisions, particularly the disqualification of benefit-dependent migrants and the restriction of human rights protections, could face significant legal and ethical challenges under both UK and international law.

As the immigration debate intensifies, the proposed legislation is likely to become a defining issue in the coming months, setting the stage for a potential policy clash between the two major parties.