Reform plan for migrant detention centres in Green-voting areas branded ‘grotesque’
Reform England’s promise to build new detention centers for people awaiting deportation in Green Party-voting areas has been described as “grotesque” by rival parties.
Nigel Farage’s party has also promised that no centers will be opened in areas with a Reform council or MP if the party wins the next election. Instead, he said “priority will be given” to sending migrants to Green-controlled areas because Zack Polanski’s party supports “open borders.”
But Mr Farage faced immediate backlash over the policy, with his party criticized for “disdaining all voters, including its own”, after critics pointed out that many of his supporters lived in areas that might ultimately vote for another party, such as the Greens.
Labor leader Anna Turley said: “This bizarre policy reveals Reform’s disdain for all voters, including their own.
“Threatening to punish places where people don’t vote for you is a betrayal of basic democratic principles.
“Nigel Farage has hit a new low: He is more interested in stoking division and anger than serving the whole country.”
He also accused the Reform leader of not caring about fixing the system, adding that he “just wants to drive a toxic rift between our communities.”
The policy announcement comes as both Reform and the Greens are expected to be big winners in England’s council elections on Thursday, with Labor facing potentially disastrous consequences that could jeopardize Keir Starmer’s role as leader.
The reform says it would build detention centers to house up to 24,000 immigrants awaiting deportation at a time.
Reform’s interior affairs spokesman, Ziya Yusuf, promised that none of the new centers would be built in areas where Reform councils or MPs are elected.
He said: “A Reform government will not put immigration detention facilities in any constituency where there are Reform MPs, nor will we put them in places where Reform controls the council.
In the remaining areas, we will prioritize Green-controlled parliamentary constituencies and Green-controlled councils. “Simply put, if you vote for a Reform Council or Reform MP, we guarantee there won’t be a detention center near you. If you vote Green, there’s a good chance there won’t be one.”
A Green Party spokesman said: “Reform continues to make unserious announcements to distract voters from the fact they want to privatize our NHS.”
In Scotland, where Holyrood elections are being held on Thursday, Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer likened the policy to “bullying” of voters.
“Reform England is now openly threatening voters,” he said. “Scots will not tolerate this kind of bullying.”
