Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s hard-right Reform UK party, has pledged to withdraw the U.K. from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and implement sweeping deportation policies if his party wins the next national election. His announcement comes amid record migrant crossings across the English Channel and rising tensions over the government’s handling of asylum-seekers.
Plans for Deportation and Detention
Farage stated that all migrants arriving in the U.K. illegally — including women and children — would be detained upon arrival and permanently barred from staying. He said his government would pursue mass deportations of hundreds of thousands of people over a five-year period, scaling up detention facilities and striking deals with countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Iran to return migrants. Farage dismissed concerns about migrants facing danger upon return, saying, “We cannot be responsible for all the sins that take place around the world.”
Rising Migrant Arrivals and Public Pressure
The pledge follows a 50% increase in migrant arrivals this year, with nearly 29,000 people crossing the English Channel in 2025 so far. On a single day this week, 659 migrants reached the U.K. by boat. Official figures show that more than 111,000 asylum applications were filed in the year to June. Protests have intensified in recent weeks over the use of hotels to house asylum-seekers, with demonstrations erupting after a resident was charged with assaulting a minor.
Political Context
Although Reform UK holds only four seats in the House of Commons, national polls suggest its support rivals that of the governing Labour Party and the Conservatives. Farage has linked issues such as healthcare and housing shortages to migrant arrivals, framing the situation as an “invasion.” He hopes to position Reform as the leading party on the right ahead of the 2029 election. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected the Conservatives’ Rwanda deportation scheme, opting instead for a deal with France to return some migrants who cross the Channel.
Reactions and Criticism
Farage’s proposals have been condemned by human rights groups and dismissed by rival parties as impractical. Kolbassia Haoussou of Freedom from Torture criticized the plan, saying asylum-seekers fleeing from countries like Afghanistan and Sudan “desperately need our protection.” Critics argue that mass deportations would violate international obligations and risk sending vulnerable people back to life-threatening conditions.
Conclusion
Farage’s pledge to exit the ECHR and pursue mass deportations underscores the increasingly polarized debate over immigration in Britain. With record migrant arrivals and public anger fueling Reform UK’s momentum, the party’s hardline stance could reshape the political landscape, even as rights groups warn of severe humanitarian consequences.