"Deportation for women too": Farage makes new statement on asylum seekers
Nigel Farage has confirmed he intends to deport women asylum seekers back to the Taliban in Afghanistan if he becomes prime minister.
The Reform UK leader’s stance on the matter has been unclear, as he previously stated he wouldn’t send women back to the fundamentalist regime that took over after western militaries withdrew, but has now changed his position.
Mr. Farage spoke with Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby at the Reform UK party conference in Birmingham.
When asked if he would "detain" women and children and "send them back," the Clacton MP replied "yes."
Challenged about his statement in August that he was not "discussing" women and children, Mr. Farage claimed this referred to his desire to see men detained upon arrival in the UK.
At that time, he said he was "very, very clear" about the "deportation of illegal immigrants," adding: "We are not even discussing women and children at this stage - there are so many illegal males in Britain, and the news reports that said that after my conference yesterday were wrong."
Speaking today, Mr. Farage claimed that the UK has a "duty of care" to a child if, for example, a four-year-old arrives on a dinghy - but not to women and men.
"For clarity, those who cross the English Channel will be detained and deported, men and women," Mr. Farage continued.
"Children, we’ll have to think about."
’No one’ can prevent small boats crossing the Channel
The Reform leader also retracted his pledge to stop all boats within two weeks if he is elected prime minister.
Speaking to the conference yesterday, Mr. Farage said: "You cannot come here illegally and stay - we will stop the boats within two weeks of winning the government."
But speaking to Beth Rigby today, he revised his statement - saying "the passing of legislation" would be required.
He stated that only then would the boats be stopped within two weeks, or sooner. In the interview with Rigby, Mr. Farage attempted to claim he did not say he would end the boats within two weeks of "winning the government."
However, the video of his speech, as well as the transcript released by Reform UK, clearly show him saying: "We will stop the boats within two weeks of winning the government."
When asked why he couldn’t follow through with his initial claim, Mr. Farage said it was impossible and that "no one" can prevent them from crossing the Channel.
The Reform UK leader said the law he wants to introduce will be called the Illegal Migration Act once it is passed by parliament.
He confirmed his agenda includes leaving the European Convention on Human Rights, closing down asylum hotels, and housing people at RAF bases instead, as well as deporting Channel migrants.
Mr. Farage also claimed that deportation flights would commence within two weeks of the law changing, and this combination of factors would deter people from wanting to travel from France.
This strategy depends entirely on Reform UK winning the next general election - which Labour is not obliged to call until 2029.
However, the Reform leader says he believes the government will collapse in 2027 due to economic pressure and other factors.
Reform currently stands well clear of Labour and the Conservatives in polling, and they are targeting next year’s Welsh, Scottish, and English local elections to try and gain more power in councils and national assemblies.
World Affairs Correspondent
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