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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has vowed to end the United Kingdom’s asylum system for up to five years if the hard-right party gets into power.
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Speaking at a press conference in Kent in southeastern England on Monday, Farage renewed his criticism of the government’s handling of small boat crossings from mainland Europe as he outlined Reform’s stance on those seeking asylum in Britain.
“We will end the asylum system for up to five years,” Farage told the audience. “Why are we going to do that? Because we are in the most terrible mess as a country. We literally have no idea who is here, and we frankly can’t afford to take the risk.”
“We want to get back to being a normal country,” he continued. “A country that puts national security at the top of the agenda; a country that does everything it can to protect its own citizens; and a country that detains and deports people that come illegally.”
He also reiterated Reform’s pledge to end all small boat crossings within the first 100 days of government.
The next general election is not due to be held until 2029.
Small boat crossings by people looking to claim asylum in the UK have become an increasingly prominent and polarising topic in British politics.
Reform has accused Labour of having “totally lost control” of the UK’s borders, whilst Labour says crossing figures have continued to come down in recent years – a line Farage has dubbed as “extraordinary.”
Home Office figures show 1,066 migrants arrived in the UK on 15 boats since 5 October.
Late last month, a spokesperson for the department said the government had “made progress tackling the small boats.”
“Crossings are down significantly, and we have just recorded the lowest number of summer arrivals since 2020,” they said, adding that they “must go further” with countermeasures.
Data released by the Home Office in August showed asylum applications hit a peak of 109,662 in the year ending September 2025 but have since fallen – although they remain above levels seen between 2003 and 2022.
Brexit
In his speech, Farage also made sure to reference the UK’s divisive 2016 Brexit vote to leave the European Union, which has once again been making headlines following British Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s suggestion that rejoining the bloc was an option for the country.
“One of the biggest reasons for voting Brexit was seeing the madness of what was happening in Europe and saying, ‘we don’t want that to happen here,'” Farage said as he hit out at European immigration policy. “We need to get back control of our borders.”
“Sadly, that hope has been completely betrayed by both Conservative and now a Labour government,” he added.
Burnham has repeatedly signalled his intention to move the UK closer to Europe since taking office in July and recently said reentering the EU was one of a number of options moving forward.
The PM told an audience at the Labour Party’s annual conference in Liverpool last month that Brexit had “done more harm than good” and that the UK needed a clear strategy on its long-term relationship with the EU.
Reform has ridden a wave of popularity spurred on by its anti-immigration stance, but its momentum has been knocked slightly in recent months amid a series of donations scandals involving Farage.
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