Migrants could only be eligible for benefits and social housing once they become British citizens and those in the country illegally could have to wait up to 30 years for long-term residency in the UK under new plans.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled a shake-up to rules for legal migration just days after announcing reforms to the asylum system.

She said current forecasts show 1.6 million are due to settle in the UK between 2026 and 2030, with a peak of 450,000 in 2028.

Ms Mahmood said: “Migration will always be a vital part of Britain ’s story. But the scale of arrivals in recent years has been unprecedented.

“To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege. And it must be earned.

“I am replacing a broken immigration system with one that prior

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