Reform UK unveils £50 billion welfare overhaul
Thousands of British citizens living across Europe face losing access to local welfare systems under a proposed policy unveiled by Reform UK that would strip foreign nationals in Britain of most social security benefits.
The measure, announced on Monday by Reform UK economy spokesman Robert Jenrick, forms part of a wider £50 billion overhaul of the British welfare system. Under the proposals, the party aims to ban foreign nationals from accessing most benefits if elected to government, a move projected by the party to save taxpayers £21 billion a year by the fifth year.
Jenrick cites ‘welfare state for the world’
Jenrick argued that the British taxpayer is currently acting as the “welfare state for the world,” contending that the system should prioritize British citizens. However, the policy would require a significant renegotiation of the UK’s post-Brexit settlement with the European Union.
EU citizens currently living in Britain who are protected by the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement hold rights that include equal treatment in areas such as social security. While EU nationals with settled status would retain their residency rights under the Reform proposal, they would lose their current entitlements to benefits.
Danny Kruger acknowledges potential EU retaliation
Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Monday, Reform UK MP Danny Kruger acknowledged that the plan could trigger retaliatory measures from European nations. Kruger stated that he would “understand it” if European countries decided to deny British nationals living abroad access to their respective welfare systems in response.
“So I’d understand if the Europeans decided to apply the same principle that we are and to deny our nationals access to their welfare system and we will pay for that ourselves,” Kruger told the broadcaster.
Impact on hundreds of thousands of British expats
According to figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute, the country was home to 266,462 British nationals as of January 1, 2025. Thousands of those Britons could be directly impacted if Spain and other EU member states enact reciprocal bans.
Kruger noted that affected British expatriates across Europe would face two options under a Reform government: they could return to the United Kingdom to claim benefits domestically, or potentially continue receiving British disability payments abroad if they meet criteria under a newly negotiated agreement.
Proposals contingent on future election victory
The proposals are not currently government policy and would only take effect if Reform UK wins power at a future general election.
