Reform UK has unveiled plans to deport all foreign nationals from Britain's prisons, with discussions reportedly underway with El Salvador to house them in its prisons. The party's Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf vowed to change the law so that those committing serious crimes serve their full sentences.
Deportation Plans and Talks
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has reportedly opened talks with the government of El Salvador on potentially renting prison spaces, according to The Sun. Party chairman Lee Anderson is expected to lead a delegation to the Central American country within months for further feasibility discussions.
Yusuf said: “Unbelievably, there are over 10,000 foreign nationals in British jails. We will deport all foreign nationals from our jails. If their home countries won’t take them back we will send them to serve their sentences in countries like El Salvador and Kosovo. We will use the space created to ensure that serious criminals stay where they belong. Behind bars.”
Policy Details and Context
The plans echo a US policy where Donald Trump struck an agreement with El Salvador to deport migrants from the United States. The Sun reported Farage will pledge to create 12,000 new prison spaces through pop-up nightingale prisons, similar to temporary hospitals and courts introduced during the pandemic.
Farage is also expected to promise an end to early release for dangerous offenders and reintroduce short sentences for shoplifters. This comes as the Government faces pressure over its early release scheme, which starts in October to tackle prison overcrowding.
Government and Labour Response
Some 5,000 people are expected to be released early under sentencing changes, down from 6,000 after exemptions announced as part of an urgent review. Under current plans, two of Pc Andrew Harper’s killers remain eligible to be freed halfway through their 13-year sentences, despite a petition signed by over 850,000 people calling for them to remain jailed.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Keeping the public safe is and always will be Labour’s first priority. The Government has already made clear we are working at pace to deport foreign criminals and we’re building more prison places to deliver justice for victims and keep criminals behind bars. Reform have no serious answers to the Tory prisons crisis and would lead the system to collapse. This would result in a free for all for dangerous and violent offenders, including murderers and rapists. Nigel Farage and Reform simply can’t be trusted to keep Britain safe.”
