Resolution Statement – 01958-25 Servaas v express.co.uk

Summary of Complaint

1. Dr Wouter Servaas complained to the Independent Press Standards Organisation that express.co.uk breached Clause 1 of the Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “The huge new rules that will make it harder for immigrants to become British”, published on 11 May 2025.

2. The article, which appeared online only, reported on government proposals to change current immigration policy. The opening paragraph reported: “Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will end automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living in the UK for five years.”

3. The complainant said that the above statement was inaccurate, in breach of Clause 1, where it reported that anyone living in the UK for five years would be entitled to automatic settlement and citizenship. He said that after five years individuals “get the right to apply for settlement”, and then after another year, the right to apply for citizenship – these are not automatically given and, he noted, can be refused.

4. In support of his position, the complainant pointed to the current immigration policy published on the government’s website. Under the heading “If you have indefinite leave to remain (ILR)”, the website stated:

“You can usually apply for ILR after you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years.

To apply for citizenship with ILR you must usually have lived in the UK for 12 months after getting it.”

5. The publication contended that the reported statement was based on a government press release, which it supplied - the press release referred to: “The new system will end automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living here for five years.”

6. The publication said it was entitled to rely on this information in its reporting. In light of the complainant’s concerns however, it attempted to contact the relevant Government department for clarity.

Relevant Clause Provisions

Clause 1 (Accuracy)

i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the text.

ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and — where appropriate — an apology published. In cases involving IPSO, due prominence should be as required by the regulator.

iii) A fair opportunity to reply to significant inaccuracies should be given, when reasonably called for.

iv) The Press, while free to editorialise and campaign, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

Mediated Outcome

7. The complaint was not resolved through direct correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore began an investigation into the matter.

8. During IPSO’s investigation, the publication commented that the press release – upon which it had relied – contradicted the information published on the government’s website. While it reiterated that it was entitled to rely on the press release, in light of the complainant’s concerns and where it had not received further clarity from the Government, it printed the following correction beneath the headline of its article:

“A previous version of this article, which was based on a No.10 Downing St press release, stated that a new crackdown unveiled by Labour "will end automatic settlement and citizenship for anyone living in the UK for five years." However, we would like to make clear that this guidance appears to contradict that of the Gov.uk website, which states that "you can usually apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after you've lived in the UK for 5 years", therefore does not appear to be an "automatic" process as the press release suggested. We have reached out to both No10 and Gov.uk but have not received a response. The article has been amended to reflect the Gov.uk website, and we are happy to clarify this.”

9. It also amended the disputed line – where it previously referred to the Home Secretary ending “automatic settlement and citizenship”, the updated version of the article referred to the Home Secretary ending “the ability to automatically apply for settlement and citizenship.”

10. The complainant said that this resolved the matter to his satisfaction.

11. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been any breach of the Code.

Date complaint received: 12/05/2025

Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 23/07/2025