To be worried about my indefinite leave to remain. Should I get British citizenship?

Reform have said they will change the law retrospectively if they are voted in.

So anyone with ILR will be deported. They said at their conference that anyone with ILR shouldn't be getting a pension. They will start with low paid workers and people on any benefits.

I have ilr too, I have lived here since I was 6 months old. I am 48. I have 32 years of NI contributions. I have a minimum wage job and I claim pip.

I can't afford citizenship.

I think it is common sense to try to become a citizen of the country in which you reside. Yes, it's expensive and a bit of hassle but it gives you lifelong security where you're settled with your family and friends. You are right in considering pursuing this and I urge you to go ahead and do so.

She will be covered by the EU/UK withdrawal agreement. Reform say they won't attempt to change that, and if they did, it would affect the UK trade agreement with the EU, it's impact on the UK would be huge, and the Irish border issue would need addressing. All those years of uncertainty would tank the UK economy. Imagine millions of EU professionals in the UK being denied the right to stay and work. Also worth noting that many of these changes would take longer than a electoral term to become law.

No, in the 90s. Will ask my mum!

This

It's not that straightforward for people with ILR if dual nationality is not recognised between the UK and their country or origin, Spain for example. I have a Spanish friend, she's lived and worked in the UK for over 30 years, since she was 20. If she applies for British Nationality she will have to relinquish her Spanish nationality, which makes no sense.

I would say citizenship v ilr is more akin to marriage v civil partnership.

Both secure rights and protections. The issue is they're looking at stripping away those rights and protections.

It's interesting to contrast the views on the legal process of becoming a citizen, with the views on the legal process of entering into the contract some call marriage.

Especially in terms of securing rights.

Yes I'm reading the news. Things haven't changed for those who already hold ILR

Absolutely be worried and absolutely work on getting your British citizenship. It provides more security.

I also would not rely on what they cannot “legally” do.

Laws can be changed.

Were you born pre-1983? That’s when birthright citizenship was abolished.

If a UK party started kicking out people with the level of settled life here that op has, she'd be one of the lucky ones, in that she could leave. A government pursuing that line, with a parliamentary majority to support it, would be a UK not worth living in.

I completely understand. I am British but after living in the USA for a long time, I got US citizenship, to protect our children (long story) and felt very conflicted during the whole process, especially the part when they make you take a vow to "reject your country of origin" or words to that effect. My DH quite helpfully whispered to me at the time, "they can make you say it but they can't make you mean it"

But honestly if being a UK citizen will protect you down the line just get it done.

My kids have British, Australian and Irish citizenship - they’re Australian born to British parents who also have Australian and Irish citizenship.
I want them to have the ability to live and work easily in as many places as possible, which is why I have organised these passports for them.
No emotions are involved, simply practicalities.

@Milliemoons

These days with the rise of the right and protectionism globally you can’t continue to think of citizenship as an emotional signalling - and become pragmatic.
I am an immigrant with 2 passports. Kids are 2 gen here, born in and feel British and have 4 passports - so in the future, they’ll be ok even if major re-balancing of global mobility actually happens.

Farage seems to be a very likely next PM. i’d not take chances and be pragmatic.

They are already moving the goalposts. You will need 10 years and meet all sort of conditions to get ILR. it was 5 years before. Who knows what is next we Labour trying to outdo Nigel. Are you not following the news????

I had wondered why there were so many people with ILTR who didn't have citizenship. My friend was utterly delighted to be granted citizenship but her country of origin is unstable and travelling on her other passport was always difficult. My SIL had dual UK and US citizenship but has now relinquished her US passport because it was so much trouble.

In your shoes, I would definitely recommend applying for citizenship. We have a foreign national with ILTR in the family and we all encouraging tbem to apply.

They did actually apply a few years ago and never finished the process because the Home Office made so many mistakes that they cancelled the application and gave them a full refund.

It's an arduous and very very expensive process but given the way politics is going, I would now see it as more important than ever.

For me, citizenship is more closely tied to personal identity, so I understand why you feel your identity aligns more with your parents' heritage. No matter what others say, they cannot define your identity.

I’d wait until the government officially announces something. An option will likely be provided. Until then, I’d maintain the ILR.

Wait, what? I didn't know this either!

I'm a British citizen (says so on my passport), but now I wonder how - pretty sure my parents only sorted iltr during Brexit.

My husband feels similarly to you - he came here as a teen, it was a desperate and he hoped temporary measure… but turned out settling, marrying, two kids (and works harder and pays more tax than most). He begrudges swearing his allegiance to the King as he is not a royalist and with solicitor fees it may well not be financially feasible. But we can’t risk him being deported - our DC would be devastated and everything we’ve worked so hard for, from nothing, lost…

I understand how this can be, but apply for the British citizenship.

I was born in a different country and identify entirely with that nationality. My daughter was born here, but also strongly identify with that nationality, and is a citizen by descent (both parents).

All three of us have British passports though (she's entitled by birth...), as it made sense to have it for these current issues and other reasons. This hasn't diminished how we acknowledge and celebrate our heritage.

If you live here, intend to stay and have children, then I think you absolutely should get the citizenship.

You never know whether the rules or eligibility could change, or restrictions been out on those on ILR (e.g. NHS, benefits,...).

Settled status, which is presumably what you have if you're European, and Indefinite Leave to Remain aren't quite the same thing. I realise you may know this, but I think it's important in these sorts of discussions to be clear.

How will Labour make things 'harder', what does this look like?