Reform UK, the political party led by Nigel Farage, has announced a bold immigration policy that would involve the deportation of 600,000 asylum seekers from the United Kingdom. The plan, named Operation Restoring Justice, seeks to address what Farage describes as an ‘invasion’ of illegal migrants, many of whom he claims are entering the country through small boats from the European continent. The party’s proposal includes withdrawing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), repealing the Human Rights Act, and scrapping international treaties that currently prevent forced deportations. Farage argues these measures would curb civil disorder and stop the inflow of asylum seekers.
Labour Party Chairwoman Ellie Reeves criticized the announcement, saying it lacked detail and did not address the practical, financial, or ethical questions surrounding the plan. ‘Today, we got none of those things, nor a single answer to the practical, financial, or ethical questions about how their plan would work,’ she said. The announcement followed weeks of small protests over mass migration and crimes committed by some asylum seekers. Britain received a record 108,100 asylum applications in 2024, many from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Bangladesh.
Polling shows that immigration has overtaken the economy as voters’ top concern. Reform UK, despite holding only four seats in Parliament, is leading in surveys of voting intentions. Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook dismissed the proposals as ‘a series of gimmicks’ that would not work. Reform’s opponents and several charities have said the plan would amount to Britain abandoning its human rights commitments. The party’s proposals are seen as a significant shift in the UK’s approach to immigration and asylum policy, sparking intense debate over the balance between national security and human rights.