Reform UK Plans Deportation of 600,000 Migrants Over Five Years in UK

Immigration has become a central political issue in Greater Manchester this summer, with tensions rising over the use of hotels like Cresta Court to shelter asylum seekers, sparking protests and community unrest. Nigel Farage's Reform UK party recently unveiled an ambitious immigration plan proposing the deportation of up to 600,000 migrants over five years, costing £10 billion, which includes the UK withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights and amending the Human Rights Act. While the Home Office data shows a recent increase in asylum seekers housed in hotels under Labour, the overall numbers remain significantly lower than the Tory peak. Reform's policy faces significant legal and political challenges, including the need to renegotiate the Good Friday Agreement and parliamentary approval, making its implementation uncertain unless Reform wins the next election. Public opinion in the region is mixed, with some residents seeing immigration as a scapegoat for other issues and others supporting tougher measures, reflecting the complexity of the debate. The announcement has also pushed Reform UK into an eight-point polling lead, highlighting the political impact of the immigration issue.