Rory, Jana and their children are one of many families in the UK that could be deeply impacted by Reform UK’s plans to scrap indefinite leave to remain
Rory Wilmer and his wife Jana (centre) are fearing for their futures in the UK after Reform UK’s plans to scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain were announced
A Merseyside man says his family is now living in fear after Nigel Farage announced hugely controversial plans that could see thousands of UK families torn apart. Rory Wilmer lives in New Brighton with his wife Jana and their children. Rory is a British citizen and his wife Jana is a Czech Republic national.
The couple lived in the European country for many years but came back to New Brighton in Wirral – where Rory grew up – in 2022 to build their lives and support Rory’s elderly parents.
Since arriving back in the UK, Rory says his family have paid out a total of £28,000 in fees and charges so that his wife and three children – including his two step sons aged 16 and 13 and the couple’s dual Czech-British son, aged four – can be here legally under the UK government’s five-year route to what is called indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
ILR is an immigration status granted to someone who has been admitted to the UK without any limit on their stay and who is free to take up employment or study.
On Monday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage caused outrage when he announced that if his party were to enter government at the next general election, they would abolish IRL – which is the main route towards permanent settlement in the country.
Mr Farage claimed the controversial policy was aimed at stopping 800,000 people becoming eligible for ILR between 2026 and 2030. He said people would be forced to reapply for visas every five years, with tough rules around salaries, English language requirements and the ability to bring dependents.
He did not deny the prospect of families being broken up. The policy has been roundly condemned as “abhorrent” and “unacceptable”.
One of the many families across the UK that would be hugely impacted by such a policy is Rory and Jana’s.
Rory, who works for a creative agency, told the ECHO: “We are fully embedded in Merseyside life: we work full-time, pay taxes, run a business, and own our home, but after Reform UK’s announcement about scrapping or undermining ILR, families like mine are now fearful.”
Rory Wilmer and his wife Jana (centre) are fearing for their futures in the UK after Reform UK’s plans to scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain were announced
He added: “It is just a big dog whistle. The idea that you can be granted indefinite leave to remain and then they can come in and try and take that away and then we keep having to reapply, it is really worrying.”
Jana and her children are around halfway through a five-year-route towards gaining IRL. Rory said it is depressing and worrying that this could be granted just a short time before a potential Reform election win that could see their situation turned on its head.
Rory added: “We have already spent £28,000 on all the fees and charges, which is fine. But it is frustrating that we have had to do this because of Brexit and because of Nigel Farage. We wouldn’t have had to do this before Brexit as European citizens.
“So Nigel Farage helped to cause this for us and now he is giving this threat that they will just take it away from us. It is terrifying for our family.”
Rory said he is also worried that the Labour government may revert to “knee-jerk” policies in light of the Reform announcement and has urged the government not to “move the goalposts”.
He said: “Our real fear is that Labour, under pressure at conference, might shift from the five-year route we entered on to a 10-year route, or otherwise move the goalposts for people who have already committed their savings and futures.
“That would represent a serious breach of trust with families who followed every rule, paid every fee, and made life-changing commitments based on the assurances given.”
“I would ask Labour to make clear commitments: will they honour the five-year route for those who have already entered it, and not bow to pressure from Reform by shifting the goalposts?”
Responding to Reform UK’s plans for IDR, a Downing Street spokesperson said the UK was at a crossroads between “national renewal” under Keir Starmer and “the path of division and decline which Reform wants to put the country on”.
The Prime Minister is expected to make a speech at the back end of this week – on the eve of the Labour Party conference in Liverpool – in which he will talk about fighting back against the far right.