London, Aug 26 (AP) Nigel Farage, leader of Britain's hard-right Reform UK party, announced Tuesday that if he wins the upcoming election, he plans to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights and immediately detain and deport anyone entering the country illegally.
Farage outlined these measures in response to the increasing number of migrants crossing the English Channel by boat, alongside ongoing protests over the government's reliance on hotels to accommodate asylum-seekers.
Though Reform UK holds just four of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, the party has gained traction by capitalizing on public dissatisfaction with the government's handling of illegal immigration.
National polls suggest that Reform UK's support is on par with or even exceeds that of the Labour Party and the Conservatives.
"If you come to the UK illegally, you will be detained and deported and never, ever allowed to stay, period," Farage declared at a press conference.
He noted the prevailing national sentiment as "a mix between total despair and rising anger," warning of "a genuine threat to public order" without decisive action.
Farage, known for connecting issues like public healthcare and housing to migrant arrivals, reiterated his claim that the UK is facing an "invasion" by migrants.
He pledged that if Reform comes to power, the UK will exit the European Convention on Human Rights and either repeal or “disapply” other rights treaties to block all asylum claims, ensuring that unauthorized entrants are deported.
The party aims to increase detention facility capacity and secure repatriation agreements with countries like Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Iran.
When repeatedly questioned about the risk of asylum-seekers facing torture or death if sent back, Farage responded: "The alternative is to do nothing... We cannot be responsible for all the sins that take place around the world."
To date this year, over 28,000 people have crossed the English Channel into the UK by boat, marking a 50% increase from the same period last year. Moreover, more than 111,000 individuals applied for asylum in the UK in the year leading up to June, according to official statistics.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has abandoned the Conservative administration's plan to send migrants arriving by unauthorized means to Rwanda. Instead, hopes are pinned on a recent agreement with France to return some migrants crossing in dinghies and inflatable boats back to France. UK officials have labeled the "one in, one out" plan as a major breakthrough, despite initial limitations in its scope.
The government is also seeking to expedite the processing of asylum claims, as tens of thousands of migrants await decisions in hotels funded by public expense. This policy has sparked controversy and intensified recent protests, following allegations that a hotel resident attempted to kiss a 14-year-old girl and was charged with sexual assault, a claim the individual has denied.
Protests and counterprotests have occurred after local authorities secured a temporary injunction to close the Bell Hotel in Epping, near London. (AP)
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