UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Reform leader Nigel Farage retreats from plans targeting women and children, aiming at adult illegal migrants instead, amid criticism from charities and MPs.
As reported by The Standard, Nigel Farage has scaled back his party’s deportation plans, confirming women and children will no longer be included in the first five years.
The Reform leader announced a scheme to detain and deport up to 600,000 people, targeting anyone who crossed the Channel illegally.
Nigel Farage’s views on deporting women and children
During the migration plan announcement, the Reform leader confirmed women and children would be detained.
He admitted that handling children is “more complicated and difficult.” Reform figure Zia Yusuf said phase one will focus on adults, with unaccompanied minors returned toward the latter half of the five-year plan.
Speaking in Broxburn on Wednesday, Mr Farage insisted the party is focused on “illegal males” and said women and children are “not even being discussed at this stage.”
He said,
“The news reports that said that after my conference yesterday were wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.”
When questioned on children and women’s exemption, he responded,
“I didn’t say exempt forever, but at this stage it’s not part of our plan for the next five years.”
Reform plans, including return deals with Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, drew criticism from refugee groups and politicians.
Mr Farage stated was “really interesting” that “people aren’t questioning the need for something radical to be done”, highlighting that Sir Keir Starmer “hasn’t attacked me on the idea that we should be deporting people that come illegally.”
What did Steve Smith and Daisy Cooper say about Reform’s deportation plan?
Steve Smith, Care4Calais chief, said most people
“don’t want to see women and children placed in detention centres, denied their rights to safety.”
Daisy Cooper of the Liberal Democrats criticised Reform, calling their proposal a “Taliban tribute”, endangering Afghan women and children with taxpayer money.
What did Nick Thomas-Symonds say about Farage’s “invasion” comment?
Nick Thomas-Symonds declined to comment critically after Farage called small boat arrivals an “invasion.”
He added,
“We can all talk about language, but I don’t think it is about particular words we want to use, or particular slogans we want to use, or indeed about offering empty solutions, which is what Nigel Farage was doing yesterday, that’s going to solve this.”
What did Diane Abbott say about Keir Starmer ignoring Nigel Farage?
Some left-leaning figures, including Diane Abbott, slammed the government’s failure to question Mr Farage’s statements.
Ms Abbott, who lost the Labour whip in July, described the move as “unsurprising” and accused the Prime Minister of copying Mr Farage all summer.
She added,
“All those who stand for decency, for human rights and against racism will find their voice. But they can expect zero from Starmer.”
What did Lord Hanson say about Farage’s deportation plan?
Home Office minister Lord Hanson said Reform UK‘s plans are “uncosted, unconstructed” and “won’t be very effective.”
He stated,
“Nigel Farage’s plan, such as it is, could have been written on the back of a fag packet, is very uncosted and unconstructed, and it’s not really going to be very effective, and it’s not really a plan that is deliverable.”
Mr Hanson added,
“To deliver something, you need to have a proper, effective plan. And what we’re trying to do in government, difficult and challenging though it is, is to make some inroads into some of the real challenges and real issues without … promising undeliverable plans.”
Key facts about illegal migrants in the UK
By June 2025, the UK saw 49,000 irregular arrivals, a 27% increase from the previous year, with 88% (43,000) coming via small boats across the English Channel, while only 3% of these arrivals, mostly to Albania, had been returned since 2018.