Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is embroiled in a major controversy, accused of "staggering hypocrisy" for lauding a migration system in a country whose policies his own party's manifesto pledges to combat.
During a rally in Birmingham, Mr. Farage surprisingly held up Eritrea as a positive example for its approach to "national service," a program the UK government and international bodies have long condemned as a form of forced labour involving indefinite conscription.
This praise stands in direct opposition to his party's own promise to tackle illegal immigration from the very same African nation.
Political Backlash and Accusations
The immediate reaction from across the political spectrum was one of astonishment and criticism. A spokesperson for the Conservative Party labelled the comments "staggeringly hypocritical," highlighting the stark contrast between Farage's rhetoric and the reality of Eritrea's human rights record.
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper seized on the gaffe, stating it demonstrated a "total lack of seriousness or integrity" on the critical issue of immigration, a central pillar of Reform UK's campaign.
Reform UK's Manifesto Contradiction
The incident reveals a profound contradiction within Reform UK's own policy platform. The party's manifesto explicitly commits to "stop the boats" and secure Britain's borders, citing Eritrea as a key source of illegal migration that requires a firm response.
This position aligns with the UK's official stance, which grants asylum to Eritreans fleeing the brutal national service program that Farage appeared to endorse. Human rights organisations have documented widespread abuses within the system, including torture, sexual violence, and forced labour in harsh conditions.
Mr. Farage's comments have therefore placed him in the extraordinary position of praising a system his party vows to protect the UK from.
Farage's Defence and Further Scrutiny
In response to the backlash, a Reform UK spokesman defended the leader's remarks, claiming his point was about "national pride" and not the specific details of Eritrea's conscription model. They asserted his comments were being deliberately misconstrued by political opponents.
However, this defence has done little to quell the criticism, with many pointing out that it is impossible to separate the concept of national service in Eritrea from its well-documented, coercive implementation. The episode is likely to fuel ongoing debates about the coherence and depth of Reform UK's policies as the election campaign intensifies.
