Nigel Farage's populist Reform UK party will make it harder for foreign nationals to move to Britain if it wins the next election, tailoring the system to higher earners with strong English with the aim of reducing the number of migrants.

Under the plans, Reform would scrap the current "Indefinite Leave to Remain" status that migrants can claim after five years, and replace it with a five-year renewable work visa, which would prevent holders accessing welfare benefits.

"There will be a route to citizenship, but a much tougher route to citizenship than we currently have," Farage told a media conference on Monday.

Reform UK has just five MPs in the 650-strong British parliament but leads opinion polls, with 28 per cent of people saying they would vote for the party, a lead of eight points

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