Reform UK Farage Plans Deportation of 600,000 Amid Church Criticism

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party has proposed a controversial plan to deport up to 600,000 migrants arriving by small boats, aiming to address the UK migration crisis with a £10 billion budget, a figure widely criticized as unrealistic given economic projections estimating costs at £47.5 billion. Farage's plan has drawn sharp criticism from the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, who condemned the approach as an "isolationist, short-term kneejerk" reaction that fails to address the root causes driving migration and risks worsening the problem by merely shifting it elsewhere. The Archbishop emphasized that such mass deportations lack long-term solutions and warned against simplistic policies that ignore broader global issues. Despite public anxiety over migration, reflected in declining support for Prime Minister Starmer's handling of the crisis, Farage's stance has been labeled by some as divisive, though he maintains it resonates with a significant segment of voters. The Church of England leadership also questions the humanitarian implications of deporting vulnerable individuals, including those facing persecution, and calls for more compassionate, comprehensive strategies. Farage has defended his plan but has recently adjusted it to exclude women and children from immediate deportation, highlighting ongoing tensions in the UK's political debate over immigration policy.