Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf has written to Vodafone's CEO, Margherita Della Valle, warning that the company could face prison if it continues to help illegal migrants. In a letter, he called for Vodafone to be excluded from all defence, national security and emergency services contracts if the firm is complicit in facilitating illegal entry to the UK.
Vodafone's SIM card distribution
The warning follows revelations that the charity Care4Calais distributed 2,221 pre-paid Vodafone SIM cards to migrants. The charity's annual report details how volunteers have hand-delivered 162,000 items, including the SIM cards, 3,765 hoodies, 3,532 pairs of joggers and 1,174 t-shirts, to ensure migrants are clothed and can call and text.
Mr Yusuf said Vodafone's customers will be "astounded" that they are "helping to facilitate the invasion of Britain by unvetted, military-age men". He added: "They will be shocked to hear that their phone or broadband provider is actively endangering British women and girls."
Reform's proposed Polanski law
Reform has vowed to introduce a "Polanski law" to criminalise those aiding illegal entry to the UK, with the proposal set to ignore the "intent" behind the acts. Mr Yusuf warned Ms Della Valle: "If you didn't know, you should review your procedures as - if Vodafone persists in aiding and abetting the invasion of Britain - you will face criminal sanctions under a Reform UK Government. If found guilty, you would be liable to go to prison."
He also stated that a Reform UK Government would review all public contracts and future contracting with Vodafone and consider further sanctions such as regulatory penalties. He specifically called for exclusion from defence, national security and emergency services procurement, and for Vodafone's equipment to be removed from sensitive networks as soon as possible.
Mitigation steps demanded
Mr Yusuf outlined steps Vodafone could take to be considered in mitigation: immediately cancel the SIM cards, terminate the relationship with Care4Calais, publicly pledge to stop facilitating illegal entry, provide tracking data from the SIM cards to British and French authorities, and rapidly review all links with non-profits to ensure no further support for charities assisting illegal migrants.
He also noted that this is not the first time Vodafone has been accused of such actions, having previously given phones to Afghans secretly smuggled into the country by the Tories. Vodafone has been invited to comment.
Care4Calais reacted to the revelations, first uncovered by GB News, by urging supporters to donate more. In an email, they said: "We're proud of this work. We're proud to stand with refugees and people seeking asylum. And with your support, we'll keep doing it. Could you make a donation today to help provide practical support to refugees and people seeking asylum? Let's give GB News even more to report next year."
More than 80,000 have crossed the Channel in the 768 days since Labour won power, and smuggling gangs are now launching mega dinghies to flood Britain with migrants.
