Migrants must prove they are contributing to society to be eligible to stay in the UK, the Home Secretary has announced.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Shabana Mahmood outlined new criteria migrants must meet to be eligible to stay in the UK indefinitely.

According to the proposal, legal immigrants must be proficient in English, not be involved in any crime, and perform voluntary service in the community in order to be granted permanent residency.

Labour said the policy drew a clear line of distinction between the government and Reform UK, which would eliminate the possibility of migrants obtaining permanent residence.

Currently, migrants can only apply for the right to live, study and work in the UK permanently after five years.

The Labour Party, however, has proposed increasing this from five years to ten.

Reform, meanwhile, plans to require refugees, including those with permission and those who are not EU citizens, to reapply for permission to stay in the country every five years.