London, (AFP) – The British Home Secretary plans to unveil new rules on Monday concerning immigrants seeking to settle in the country, requiring them to have a job, not claim benefits, and engage in community work.

Currently, those with family in the UK and who have lived there for five years are eligible for permanent residency, as well as those who have legally resided for ten years under any type of visa.

Those meeting these conditions also have the right to live, work, study, claim benefits, and obtain British citizenship.

However, in a major policy shift, Home Secretary Suphana Mahmoud announced on Monday that immigrants wishing to settle will have to contribute to social security, not claim any benefits, and have a clean criminal record.

Mahmoud will set out the new rules during the ruling Labour Party’s annual conference, with the government planning consultations on these changes later this year, according to a party statement.

This comes shortly after the far-right Reform Party, currently leading in opinion polls, announced it would completely abolish the right to permanent residency and require immigrants to apply for a visa every five years.

The Labour Party statement said, “These measures draw a clear dividing line between the Labour government and the Reform Party, whose recent announcement (…) would force workers who have contributed to building this country for decades to leave their homes and families.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the Reform Party’s plan on Sunday as “racist,” adding that it “will tear the country apart.”

In her first speech as Home Secretary at the conference, Mahmoud will emphasize that immigrants must learn English to a high standard and pledge to be a “tough” minister.

Mahmoud will warn party members that failure to address immigration issues means workers “will turn away from us (…) and resort to the false promises” of Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.