Reform UK, the hard-right British party, has announced a radical welfare overhaul that would strip all foreign nationals, including European Union citizens with settled status, of access to most benefits. The proposal, unveiled by the party's economics spokesperson Robert Jenrick, would require reopening the UK's Brexit withdrawal agreement with Brussels, a prospect that could reignite tensions across the Channel.
Speaking in London on Monday, Jenrick, who represents Newark in Parliament, framed the policy as a matter of fairness. "The British taxpayer is acting as the welfare state for the world. That's unfair," he said. Under a Reform government, he insisted, "only British citizens will be entitled to benefits," with narrow exceptions for military veterans and those who have contributed to the state pension system.
"The welfare state is there for Britain. No British citizenship, no entitlement," Jenrick added, drawing a hard line that would affect a wide range of payments, including Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Child Benefit, free childcare, Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, and disability benefits.
Brexit deal in the crosshairs
The proposal has immediate implications for the UK's relationship with the EU. Under the Brexit withdrawal agreement, EU citizens who were resident in the UK before the end of the transition period are entitled to 'settled status', which grants them broadly the same access to welfare as British citizens. Reneging on that commitment would require renegotiating the treaty, a process that could strain already delicate UK-EU relations.
When pressed on whether the British public would support another round of protracted negotiations with Brussels, Jenrick criticised the existing agreement and said Reform would seek to renegotiate "a number of points" if it came to power. "I'm confident that we can do that and we can restore fairness in the process," he told reporters.
The party claims the policy could save British taxpayers £21 billion a year by 2029, a figure that has been met with scepticism. Conservative MP Helen Whately dismissed the plans as "cobbled together," suggesting they lack the detail needed for serious policy-making.
The announcement comes as Westminster prepares to spend £322 billion on welfare in Great Britain over the 2025-26 period, representing 10.6% of GDP and 23.6% of total government spending. Reform's proposal would represent a significant shift in the UK's social contract, moving from a residence-based system to one tied strictly to citizenship.
Legal experts note that the UK's obligations under the Brexit agreement are not easily set aside. The European Commission has previously defended the rights of EU citizens in the UK, and any attempt to unilaterally alter those rights could lead to dispute resolution mechanisms or even retaliatory measures from Brussels.
Reform UK has made immigration and welfare reform central to its platform, and this latest pledge follows earlier promises to deploy naval patrols to halt Channel migrant crossings. The party's stance resonates with a segment of the British electorate that feels the welfare state is being exploited by foreigners, though critics argue the savings are overstated and the social costs underestimated.
The proposal also raises questions about the status of Irish citizens, who are not considered 'foreign' under UK law due to the Common Travel Area, and about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, who are typically excluded from mainstream benefits but may receive support under separate provisions.
As the UK grapples with its post-Brexit identity, Reform's welfare plan adds another layer of complexity to the debate over who belongs and who deserves support. With a general election expected within the next two years, the party is positioning itself as the champion of a more restrictive welfare state, but the path to implementation remains fraught with legal and diplomatic hurdles.
