Reform UK has sparked widespread condemnation after announcing plans to prioritise areas with Green MPs or councils for new migrant detention centres. The policy, unveiled by shadow home secretary Zia Yusuf in a video filmed on Brighton beachfront, is seen as an effort to sharpen dividing lines ahead of local elections.
The party launched a webpage allowing voters to check if their area is on the list. Inputting the postcode of Hackney town hall, where the Greens are tipped to win council elections, triggered a warning that the area would be prioritised. Critics, including the Greens, Labour, and the Conservatives, have denounced the policy as 'disgusting', 'grotesque', and 'not serious'. Imran Hussain of the Refugee Council called it 'unworkable and profoundly un-British'.
YouGov polling found that 45% of adults considered it unacceptable for a government to base decisions on which party voters supported. Even among Reform voters, 37% deemed such decisions unacceptable. The policy appears designed to boost social media engagement, with Yusuf's video garnering 3.7 million views on X.
Party insiders suggest the policy was largely developed within Yusuf's office, reflecting Reform's desire to position itself and the Greens as the two real choices for voters. Yusuf stated, 'There is a battle for the soul of our country between Reform and the Greens.' The policy also aims to energise Reform's base in low-turnout local elections.
Former political adviser John McTernan commented, 'Reform are a very modern political party, which farms outrage... this is about ensuring that their voters continue to have something to feel strongly about.' The policy marks a shift from Reform's earlier 'Operation Restoring Justice' document, which proposed building detention centres in remote areas.
