NIGEL Farage is today promising to stop at nothing to end the small boats crisis – even paying the Taliban to take back Afghan migrants.
The Reform UK boss is unveiling a mass deportation blueprint — with pay-off deals for regimes like Afghanistan and Eritrea, giant detention camps, and a vow to rip Britain out of the European Court of Human Rights.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage[/caption]
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage unveiled his ‘Operation Restoring Justice’[/caption]
There have been more than 50,000 small boat crossings since Labour came to power[/caption]
In a fiery speech at an aircraft hangar in Oxfordshire, Mr Farage blasted the crisis as a “growing threat to our national security”, pointing to migrants arrested on suspicion of terror offences after arriving by boat.
He said: “The mood in the country around this issue is a mix between total despair and rising anger, and I would say this, that without action… without some trust coming back then, I fear deeply that that anger will grow.
“I think there is now as a result of this a genuine threat to public order and that is the very last thing that we want and I want.”
Mr Farage went on: “I’ve been saying, of course, for a long time that it’s a growing threat to our national security, and we’ve seen just recently some arrests made of people that came by boat and they are suspected of being involved in some form of terrorism.”
Earlier this morning, senior Reform figure Zia Yusuf explained how his party would persuade countries like Afghanistan to take back illegal migrants.
He told the BBC: “We have a £2 billion budget to offer countries”.
Mr Yusuf argued the money would not be “a drop in the ocean” for countries like Afghanistan and Eritrea, adding: “British people have had enough of their goodwill being taken advantage of.”
He went on: “The notion that Afghans top the list in terms of foreign nationals crossing the Channel illegally, the majority of them fighting-age males, into this country while this country gives £151 million in aid to Afghanistan?
“We don’t think that’s fair.”
He pointed to Germany having returned a limited number of Afghan nationals earlier this year who entered the country illegally and went on to commit crimes.
The package – dubbed Operation Securing Justice – will also see detainees barred from bail, with 24,000 migrants to be held on military sites within 18 months.
Mr Farage will pledge to rip Britain out of the ECHR, scrap the Human Rights Act and disapply treaties he says are “roadblocks” to booting people out.
Sir Keir Starmer has previously pledged that a Labour Government led by him would never withdraw from the ECHR and would treat international law with “profound respect”.
But the PM is facing increasing pressure from his own MPs demanding tougher action.
Backbencher Jonathan Brash told The Sun: “The British people expect our borders to be secure and they are rightly angry at the situation on our south coast.
“If the Government’s current measures don’t end the boat crossings, then we must go further and faster, including declaring a national emergency if necessary and closing our country to all asylum claims except for unaccompanied children.
“The message must be crystal clear, if you cross the Channel illegally, you will be detained and returned immediately.
“No loopholes, no delays, no excuses.
“We must restore control of our borders because that is what the public demand.”
Veteran Labour MP Graham Stringer echoed his comments, saying: “We need to persuade people who are coming here in the belief they will be allowed to stay and get priority in terms of housing and healthcare that this won’t be the case.
” And if that means withdrawing from international treaties, then so be it.”
He also warned: “It will be very difficult to win the next election if we don’t solve the problem of illegal immigrants being given the right to stay.”
Jo White, leader of Labour’s Red Wall caucus, also urged tougher action, telling the BBC: “I firmly believe that if we don’t sort it, then Labour are under threat at the next general election.
“So I want this government to look at every solution possible. And I’m very, very keen that Britain does take a look at what (Denmark) is doing, and looks at the same techniques that they’re using.”
Denmark has pursued some of the toughest asylum policies in Europe, including plans to process claims in third countries, tighter rules on residency and benefits, and measures aimed at discouraging new arrivals.
