Nigel Farage says ‘Indian migration will be restricted to highly skilled people’ if he becomes Britain’s PM

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said that Indian migration to Britain would face tighter limits if his party comes to power, but highly skilled Indian professionals would continue to be welcomed for their contribution to the UK's economy.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Farage said his proposed immigration policy would focus on reducing overall migration numbers while continuing to attract talented workers in sectors such as medicine, engineering and technology.

The remarks come as Farage seeks to position himself as a future Prime Minister. In recent weeks, he has spoken about his ambition to succeed Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

'Quality and quantity are different'

Explaining his approach to immigration, Farage said that there was an important difference between the quality of migrants and the overall number of people entering the country.

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"One is quality, the other is quantity," he said.

"There is no question on quality. We want brilliant people. Of course we do. Brilliant people who come here, speak our language, obey the law, pay their taxes and add to our productivity as a nation."

Farage acknowledged the strong reputation that Indian-origin professionals have built in Britain. He noted that many Indians work in highly skilled sectors and make valuable contributions to the economy.

Migration numbers would be reduced

Despite praising skilled Indian workers, Farage said that migration levels would have to be reduced because Britain is struggling to cope with population growth.

"Indian migration, like all migration, would be restricted in numbers," he said. "It would be restricted to highly skilled people who can bring something to us and, for themselves, earn more money than perhaps they could even believe."

According to Farage, Britain's housing and infrastructure have failed to keep pace with rising migration levels. He argued that public concerns over pressure on services and housing cannot be ignored.

"We have not caught up with this massive deficit that we have with housing and infrastructure," he said. "The numbers would be more limited. They would have to be more limited. That is what the public demands."

Praise for Indian communities

Farage also sought to reassure Indian communities living in Britain that Reform UK does not view them negatively.

He praised Indian-origin families, particularly Hindu and Sikh communities, for their strong work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit and focus on education. He also highlighted their record of integrating into British society.

Farage said Reform UK enjoys support from people of many different backgrounds, including British Indians.

Work permits, not automatic settlement

The Reform UK leader suggested that temporary work visas could continue under a future government led by his party. However, he indicated that gaining permanent settlement rights may become more difficult.

"Is it permissible for Indians to come and work? Time-restricted work permits, but not automatic rights to settle. That is a different argument," he said.

Farage maintained that his immigration policy would be based on sustainability and economic needs rather than nationality.