Reform UK, the populist party led by Nigel Farage, has ignited a fierce national debate with its sweeping proposals for mass deportation of illegal migrants, only to backtrack within days on key aspects of the plan. The party’s shifting stance on whether women and children would be subject to removal has drawn criticism from rivals, rights groups, and even some within its own ranks, highlighting the complexity and controversy at the heart of Britain’s immigration debate.
On August 26, 2025, Farage unveiled what he called "Operation Restoring Justice"—a hardline manifesto promising to detain and deport all illegal migrants arriving in the UK, inspired by similar policies deployed during Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States. According to Bloomberg, Farage declared at a press conference in Oxfordshire, "If you come to the U.K. illegally, you will be detained and deported and never, ever allowed to stay, period. That is our big message from today." His plan, he said, would see the UK leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and scrap the Human Rights Act, effectively removing legal routes of appeal for those facing deportation.
Central to the scheme was the intention to "disapply" the 1951 Refugee Convention for five years, allowing the government to deport people to countries currently deemed unsafe. The party targeted more than 650,000 adults it estimates are living illegally in the UK, as well as future asylum seekers crossing the English Channel in small boats. Reform UK promised to increase detention capacity by 24,000 within 18 months if it wins power, building new removal centers in remote parts of the country with basic facilities, and earmarked £2 billion to persuade countries like Afghanistan and Eritrea to accept returnees. British overseas territories such as Ascension Island would serve as fallback locations for those who could not be sent elsewhere.
But the details—and especially the rhetoric—sparked immediate backlash. Rights groups condemned the plans, with Kolbassia Haoussou of Freedom from Torture telling AP, "Men, women and children are coming to the U.K. looking for safety. They are fleeing the unimaginable horrors of torture in places like Afghanistan, Sudan and Iran, and they desperately need our protection." Other parties accused Farage of stoking division and offering little substance. The Liberal Democrats said Reform’s proposals "do not even stand up to the scrutiny of their own leader," while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Farage for not having "done the homework" on such a complex issue.
Initially, Reform’s policy architects left little doubt about the breadth of their ambitions. Zia Yusuf, a key figure behind the plan, told BBC Breakfast that the "first phase" would target adults without children—particularly single men—but that deportation of unaccompanied minors could take place "towards the latter half" of the five-year period. Farage himself, at the launch, said, "Women and children, everybody on arrival will be detained," though he acknowledged the treatment of children was a "complicated and difficult issue."
Yet, less than 24 hours later, the party rowed back. Speaking at a press conference in Scotland on August 27, 2025, Farage told reporters, "We’re not even discussing women and children at this stage, there are so many illegal males in Britain." Pressed on whether this meant women and children were exempt, he clarified, "I didn’t say exempt for ever, but at this stage it is not part of our plan for the next five years." He added that the party still needed to "work out the best thing to do" with female migrants who have children already in the UK, specifying that they were not "top of our list" for deportation. Reform UK later confirmed to the Financial Times that it had retreated from plans to deport women and children as part of its immigration policy, at least for the foreseeable future.
This abrupt U-turn led to accusations of policy confusion and political opportunism. The Liberal Democrats charged Farage with making a U-turn, while Downing Street accused him of not being serious about his plans. Still, Farage insisted the debate was necessary, saying his press conference had "sparked the beginning of a national debate" and noting, "even the prime minister hasn’t attacked me on the idea that we should be deporting people that come illegally."
Reform UK’s proposals represent a dramatic escalation in the scale of deportations. According to Home Office data cited by BBC News, there were just 10,652 asylum-related returns in the year to June. By contrast, Reform’s plan envisions deporting 600,000 people within five years. The party also plans to build new removal centers in "remote parts of the country," equipped with prefabricated two-person rooms, on-site medical facilities, and canteen catering. Details on locations remain vague, and the promise that facilities would be "basic but not punitive" has not quelled concerns from human rights advocates.
The backdrop to these proposals is a surge in Channel crossings and growing public frustration over the government’s handling of asylum seekers. A record 28,288 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2025 so far, a 46% increase compared to the same date in 2024. The UK government has also faced protests over the use of hotels to house asylum seekers, with tensions flaring after a hotel resident was charged with sexual assault.
Despite holding just four of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, Reform UK has been riding high in national opinion polls, in some cases equaling or surpassing the ruling Labour Party and the Conservatives. In Scotland, the party has gained momentum with defections from the Scottish Conservatives and a strong showing in the Hamilton byelection. Farage described Reform as a "rapidly evolving political movement," predicting "pretty much a wipeout" for the Scottish Conservatives at the next Holyrood elections.
Still, the party’s hardline approach has not gone unchallenged. Critics have pointed to the legal, moral, and logistical obstacles to mass deportations, especially when it comes to sending people back to countries like Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Iran—places where returnees could face persecution or worse. When asked about the risk of torture or death for deportees, Farage told AP, "The alternative is to do nothing ... We cannot be responsible for all the sins that take place around the world."
As the debate rages on, the only thing certain is that immigration will remain at the center of Britain’s political discourse. Reform UK’s shifting position on women and children has exposed the difficulties of translating tough rhetoric into workable policy, leaving voters to wonder what, if anything, will actually change if the party wins power.
