London – Former Brexit firebrand Nigel Farage unveiled on Saturday a sweeping plan to crack down on illegal migration. If his party Reform UK takes power, he says, Britain will launch “mass deportations” of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Speaking to The Times, Farage vowed to pull Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights and strike return deals with countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea. “We can be nice to people, or we can be tough. President Trump showed that toughness works,” he declared.
Security Over Responsibility
When asked if deported asylum seekers could face torture or death in their home countries, Farage responded: “I can’t be responsible for despotic regimes around the world. But I can be responsible for the safety of women and girls on our streets.”
Recent weeks have seen small protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers, fueled by public anger after reports of violent and sexual assaults involving migrants.
Immigration at the Top of Public Concerns
Polls show immigration now ranks as the public’s top concern – even ahead of the economy. Reform UK, which won five seats in last year’s elections, is now leading in surveys.
In 2024, some 37,000 migrants reached Britain from France by boat – up 25 percent from the year before. Oxford University data shows two-thirds win asylum, while only three percent are ever deported.
Deportations on a Massive Scale
Farage’s plan calls for £2.5 billion detention facilities for 24,000 migrants on military bases, with five deportation flights operating daily. If that fails, he says asylum seekers could be sent to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic – a “symbolic message” to deter future arrivals.