• Nigel Farage proposes mass deportations of asylum seekers as part of his party's immigration policy.
• The plan aims to repeal existing human rights laws and exit from the European Convention on Human Rights.
• Farage's party estimates that 600,000 deportations could occur within five years.

Nigel Farage, the leader of the anti-migration Reform UK party, has unveiled a plan to facilitate mass deportations of asylum seekers, citing the need to prevent what he describes as "major civil disorder." He aims to repeal human rights laws, withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and nullify treaties that have obstructed forced deportations. Farage asserts the current situation constitutes an "invasion," with young men entering the UK illegally and a significant public safety concern arising from recent incidents involving asylum seekers, including sexual assault charges against some individuals, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The Reform UK party, currently leading in opinion polls despite having only four seats in parliament, claims that it could deport up to 600,000 asylum seekers within its first five-year term if elected. This ambitious plan entails baring anyone arriving by small boat from claiming asylum and forming repatriation agreements with countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea. Critics, including members of the Labour Party, have dismissed these proposals as "gimmicks" that would not hold up, as they could undermine key international accords like the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland, according to Dawn and Anadolu Agency.

In recent months, the UK has seen a record number of asylum applications, prompting growing public concern over immigration issues that have eclipsed economic worries. In 2024, the country received 108,100 asylum applicants, with significant numbers arriving on small boats. The government's ongoing challenges in managing undocumented migrants signal a pressing need for viable solutions, yet the efficacy and morality of Farage's radical proposals are under scrutiny. This includes plans to build large removal centers capable of detaining thousands of individuals and increasing deportation flights to five per day, according to BBC and Reuters.

Farage's strategy notably involves financial incentives to other nations for cooperation in accepting deported individuals, while the legal implications of disbanding international treaties could have significant repercussions. It could strain relations with countries that are generally viewed as unwilling to accept returnees, such as Afghanistan and Eritrea, which the plan suggests may lead to further international isolation for the UK, according to Anadolu Agency and South China Morning Post.

Amidst this political backdrop, Farage has positioned himself as the sole leader willing to tackle what he perceives as a crisis threatening public order, claiming, “It’s about whose side are you on,” and challenging opposition figures to choose between national security and adherence to outdated treaties, according to BBC and Reuters.