LONDON, Aug 23 – Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK and a central figure in Britain’s Brexit campaign, has unveiled a controversial plan to carry out what he described as “mass deportations” of asylum seekers if his party secures power in the next general election. The proposal marks one of the most hardline immigration stances put forward by a mainstream political figure in recent years, and it has already sparked heated debate across the political spectrum.
In an interview with Saturday’s edition of The Times newspaper,, Farage outlined a framework that would see Britain withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights and pursue bilateral agreements with countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea to facilitate the return of people arriving illegally on small boats. He said the system currently in place has failed to deter irregular migration, and he argued that dramatic action is necessary to protect British communities.
“We can either try to please everyone, or we can take a tough approach,” Farage declared. Drawing comparisons with U.S. President Donald Trump, he said Trump had shown how decisive leadership could reshape immigration policy. Farage insisted that his party’s proposals were rooted in safeguarding the public, rather than accommodating what he sees as an overwhelmed asylum process.
When pressed on concerns that deporting people to countries with poor human rights records could expose them to persecution, torture, or even death, Farage dismissed responsibility for conditions abroad. Instead, he emphasized his priority was the protection of British citizens, particularly women and girls. “I cannot control despotic regimes in other parts of the world,” he said. “But I can make sure our streets are safe.”
The Reform UK leader’s proposals come at a time when immigration remains at the forefront of British politics. Public opinion surveys consistently rank asylum and migration among the top issues worrying voters, often surpassing even the economy. The issue has also become a flashpoint in local communities, with small but regular protests taking place outside hotels being used to house asylum seekers. Some of these demonstrations have been fueled by criminal cases involving migrants, adding to the tension and amplifying Farage’s calls for a tougher stance.
Statistics from recent years highlight the scale of the problem. In 2024, approximately 37,000 people crossed the English Channel on small boats, mostly from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Vietnam, and Eritrea. This represented a 25% increase compared with the previous year and accounted for nearly a tenth of total net migration. Despite these numbers, only a small proportion of arrivals have been deported, with analysis showing around two-thirds of asylum claims made by small-boat migrants were approved, while just 3% were removed from the UK.
Farage argued that these figures reflect a broken system. He told the newspaper that under his leadership, the right to claim asylum after arriving by boat would be eliminated entirely. Legal appeals against deportation would also be abolished, with Britain opting out of refugee conventions and replacing its human rights framework. According to him, the situation has escalated to a “national emergency” requiring immediate and sweeping legislation.
“The purpose of this law is to enable large-scale deportations,” Farage said. He described the rise in asylum arrivals as a “massive crisis” that is intensifying public anger and eroding trust in the government’s ability to manage borders. His plan involves creating facilities capable of holding up to 24,000 migrants at once, situated on air bases across the country. The cost of this project, he estimated, would reach 2.5 billion pounds, with the ultimate goal of organizing five deportation flights per day. Over time, the number of deportations could reach into the hundreds of thousands.
Farage also floated the idea of using Ascension Island, a remote British territory in the South Atlantic, as a holding site for asylum seekers if the main proposals encounter obstacles. He admitted this would be a symbolic step but argued it would send a clear message that the government is serious about ending irregular migration.
The Reform UK leader’s strategy builds on his long-standing stance that immigration is a defining issue for Britain’s future. His party, which secured five seats in last year’s election, has since climbed in opinion polls and is now topping several voting intention surveys. The rise suggests that his tough rhetoric is resonating with a significant segment of the electorate who believe that existing policies are inadequate.
Supporters of Farage argue that his approach addresses the frustration of communities that feel neglected by mainstream politicians. Critics, however, warn that abandoning international human rights commitments and deporting vulnerable people to dangerous regions would put Britain at odds with global norms and its own historical obligations. Legal experts have also suggested that implementing such sweeping reforms would require years of legislative battles and could provoke international backlash.
Still, Farage remains undeterred, betting that the strength of public concern about immigration will outweigh warnings from human rights advocates and legal professionals. His message is direct: Britain must reclaim full control of its borders, even if it means severing long-standing international agreements.