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Farage’s remarks come amid a surge in the number of migrants crossing the English Channel by boat, which has sparked protests across the country.
Farage said a Reform-led government would launch a five-year effort to deport hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants (File Photo/AP)
Nigel Farage, leader of the hard-right Reform UK party, has pledged to implement sweeping deportation measures targeting illegal migrants if his party wins power. Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Farage declared that his administration would detain and deport all individuals entering the country illegally, including children.
“If you come to the UK illegally, you will be detained and deported and never, ever allowed to stay, period,” Farage stated firmly. “The mood in the country around this issue is a mix between total despair and rising anger,” he said, warning that unchecked migration poses a growing threat to public order.
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Farage’s remarks come amid a surge in the number of migrants crossing the English Channel by boat, which has sparked protests across the country and intensified debate over border control. According to official figures, nearly 29,000 people have arrived via the Channel in 2025 so far, marking a 50% increase from the same period last year. On a single day, Monday, 659 people reached the UK by boat. In the year up to June, more than 111,000 asylum applications were submitted.
Currently holding just four seats in the 650-member House of Commons, Reform UK has seen a sharp rise in national political environment, with public frustration over migration helping to propel it to levels of support now rivalling both the ruling Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party. Reform aims to become the dominant right-wing party in the UK by the next general election, scheduled for 2029.
Outlining his immigration policy, Farage said a Reform-led government would launch a five-year effort to deport hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants. His plan includes expanding the country’s detention capacity and securing bilateral agreements with countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Iran for the return of their nationals. However, he did not offer specifics on how such deals would be secured.
Farage also indicated that leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) would be necessary to implement these measures. He suggested that continued membership in the ECHR restricts the UK’s ability to control its borders and enact robust deportation policies.
The proposals have been met with sharp criticism from political opponents and human rights organisations. “Men, women and children are coming to the UK looking for safety. They are fleeing the unimaginable horrors of torture in places like Afghanistan, Sudan and Iran, and they desperately need our protection,” said Kolbassia Haoussou of Freedom from Torture, condemning Reform’s plans.
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United Kingdom (UK)
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