Nigel Farage's Reform UK is facing a fierce backlash after unveiling what critics have described as 'abhorrent' plans to establish large-scale migrant detention centres exclusively in areas that do not vote for the party. The controversial policy, announced by Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf, would see tens of thousands of migrants detained at any one time, with facilities located only in constituencies controlled by parties other than Reform.
Political Targeting
Mr Yusuf stated that no constituency with a Reform MP or a Reform-controlled council would host a detention facility. Instead, the party would prioritise areas where the Green Party holds power, accusing the Greens of supporting 'open borders'. The announcement comes as voters head to the polls in local elections across parts of England, Scotland, and Wales, where Reform and the Greens are expected to make significant gains.
Furious Reaction from Labour
Labour chair Anna Turley condemned the plans as 'grotesque' and a 'betrayal of basic democratic principles'. She said: 'This grotesque policy reveals Reform’s contempt for all voters - including their own. Threatening to punish places where people don’t vote your way is a betrayal of basic democratic principles. Nigel Farage has sunk to a new low: he is clearly more interested in stoking division and anger than in serving the whole country.'
Ms Turley contrasted Labour's approach, stating: 'Labour has always been clear that we need a fair, controlled asylum system that works in Britain’s national interest – and that’s what we’re delivering. We’ve taken decisive action to bear down on small boat crossings and restore control of our borders. We're going further and closing asylum hotels around the country - regardless of what party local people voted for.'
Greens and Conservatives Speak Out
A Green Party spokeswoman described the plans as a 'disgusting idea', adding: 'Reform keep making abhorrent announcements in attempts to distract voters from the fact they want to privatise our NHS, roll back workers rights and hand out tax breaks to their billionaire backers.'
Former senior Conservative MP Simon Clarke, who served as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, warned that the proposals would likely be considered 'an abuse of ministerial power for political purposes'. He noted that choosing locations based on political motivations could result in sites that are 'not in any way suitable for the proposed centres, or near the other infrastructure required'.
Details of the Plan
Announcing the policy, Mr Yusuf said: 'A Reform government will not put any migrant detention facilities in any constituency with a Reform MP. Nor will we put them where Reform controls the council. And of the remaining areas, we will prioritise Green controlled parliamentary constituencies and Green controlled councils to locate the detention centres.'
He added: 'Put simply, if you vote in a Reform council or Reform MP, we guarantee you won’t have a detention centre near you. If you vote Green, there’s a good chance you will. This is an important exercise in democratic consent, not just for our mass deportation policy, but for where the detention centres are placed. Given Zack Polanski openly advocates for open borders, I look forward to their warm embrace of this policy.'
The plan has drawn widespread criticism across the political spectrum, with many accusing Reform of using immigration policy as a tool for political retribution rather than addressing genuine border security concerns.
