Conservative Party Chair Says Tories Potentially Seek Deal with Taliban on Afghan Migrant Returns

The Conservative Party, led by chair Kevin Hollinrake, has indicated it could "potentially" negotiate a migration returns agreement with the Taliban-run government of Afghanistan, though the deal would be costly and have serious human rights implications. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has remained non-committal on the issue, while Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has aggressively proposed mass deportations of up to 600,000 migrants, including vulnerable groups, and suggested paying regimes like the Taliban to accept deportees. Farage's plans, which include ripping up human rights commitments, have drawn criticism from opposition parties and sparked skepticism from Downing Street, though the government has not ruled out any options for returns agreements. The Taliban has expressed willingness to cooperate with any party, including Reform UK or Labour, to accept returned migrants, emphasizing they would not take money for this but would welcome aid to support those arriving. The UK government does not recognize the Taliban as Afghanistan's legitimate government and acknowledges the severe humanitarian crisis and human rights deterioration in the country since the Taliban takeover. These developments come amidst broader political discussions on migration policies and economic challenges within the UK.