Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unleashed a blistering two-word retort to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, telling him to 'sod off' after he provocatively suggested her new hardline asylum policy was an 'audition' to join his party.
The political firestorm erupted on November 18th, following Ms Mahmood's announcement of a stringent shake-up of the UK's asylum system, which includes measures to remove families with children.
Farage's 'Audition' Claim Sparks Furious Retort
Mr Farage, whose party is currently ahead in the polls, welcomed the 'strong language' used by the Labour Home Secretary but framed it as a sign that her party fears losing votes to Reform. He quipped that her policy announcement might be a pitch to become the 'next defector' to his movement.
When asked about his comments, Ms Mahmood did not mince her words. She snapped to Sky News: 'Nigel Farage can sod off. I'm not interested in anything he's got to say.'
She elaborated, stating she believed some individuals were 'seeking to make mischief' and reaffirmed her focus was solely on her 'solemn responsibility' as Home Secretary to fix what she described as a 'broken asylum system' that is fuelling division across the country.
Backlash Over Hardline Asylum Measures
The controversy extends beyond the war of words with Mr Farage. Ms Mahmood's proposed asylum overhaul, unveiled on November 17th, has triggered a furious backlash from left-wing Labour members and refugee charities.
Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, who fled the Nazis as a child, accused the Home Secretary of using 'children as a weapon' in her proposals. He told the BBC's Today programme that the measures were going in the 'wrong direction' and pleaded for more 'compassion in our politics'.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, echoed these concerns, warning that the reforms 'won't fix the real problems' and instead risk creating 'more delays, more stress and more inhumane treatment' for vulnerable people.
Political Fallout and Policy Debate
Despite the criticism, Mr Farage conceded that he agreed with much of the Home Secretary's rhetoric. However, he expressed 'serious doubts' about whether her own backbenchers would support the plans or if the changes could succeed with European human rights laws still in place.
This clash underscores the intense political pressure surrounding immigration policy in the UK, placing the new Labour government's approach under immediate and severe scrutiny from both the political left and right.
