A joint news conference in Piddington, Oxfordshire, descended into a shouting match after Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf demanded shadow home secretary Chris Philp apologise for the Conservatives' record on immigration.
The two men were invited to speak at the event, which was aimed at highlighting local opposition to plans to convert MoD Bicester, a nearby military site, into asylum accommodation.
Shouting match over immigration record
The event turned heated when Mr Yusuf called on Mr Philp to apologise for the Tories' immigration record. The shadow home secretary accused Mr Yusuf of being "disingenuous" and told him to "calm down", adding: "The public here want you to pipe down on the cheap politics."
Mr Yusuf responded: "We would not be in this mess if you had used your majority to secure our borders." Mr Philp replied: "Buddy, you're in a hole, stop digging," adding that the Tories would shut the site "straight away" if it went ahead under Labour.
Planning approval and political tensions
The conference was organised by Piddington Parish Council chairman Tim McNally after Housing Secretary Angela Rayner approved full planning permission for the site, which could accommodate more than 1,200 detained asylum seekers, despite significant local backlash.
Ministers want to use former military bases as part of efforts to close all asylum hotels, and Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said it should not just be the poorest communities receiving dispersed refugees. Politicians from both Reform UK and the Conservatives have visited Piddington in recent months to show their support to campaigners.
The clash comes as both parties seek to sharpen their political battle lines, with Kemi Badenoch recently ruling out an electoral pact to avoid splitting the right-wing vote. She has said Reform UK would take the country "backwards", while Nigel Farage has pitched his party as a new alternative to the Tories, who he says betrayed Britain on immigration while in office.
Reactions from party leaders
Responding to the row later on Friday, Tory leader Mrs Badenoch said: "The real shadow home secretary won that exchange and the applause. The fake one went along to score cheap points but made an arse of himself instead."
Mr Farage said Mr Philp "has a lot to apologise for".
