Britain could see France-style civil unrest if Labour ‘gives in’ to party rebels and waters down immigration reform, claims Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch warned that Britain could face civil unrest similar to France’s if Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood weakens proposed immigration reforms in response to Labour critics. She urged Mahmood to hold firm, saying the Government should take responsibility for addressing public concerns.

The proposals could extend the five-year wait for permanent residency by up to 10 years for foreign care workers, and have drawn criticism from senior Labour figures. Angela Rayner said she had confidence in Mahmood’s plans and supported tackling immigration through a fair process, while citing 48,000 small-boat crossing attempts prevented since 2024. Badenoch also criticised calls to reopen the Brexit debate.