Reform UK vows to suspend asylum system for five years, deport 90,000 claimants
Summary
Nigel Farage has announced a radical plan to suspend Britain’s asylum system for five years, pledging to deport approximately 90,000 current asylum claimants and abolish all new claims. Speaking in Hythe, Kent, Farage characterized the situation as a national security emergency, stating that the government's priority should be to protect its citizens and asserting that "Britain is full." This plan, dubbed "Restoring Justice," is a significant expansion of previous policies and includes measures such as leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and repealing the Human Rights Act to mitigate potential legal challenges. Reform UK’s approach faces criticism for its legality and feasibility, particularly as it competes with Labour and the Conservatives, who have accused it of mirroring existing policies regarding asylum bans and ECHR withdrawal.