Nigel Farage has expressed his intention to eliminate the human rights law in the UK to facilitate the mass expulsion of undocumented immigrants, while reports indicate that the government is gearing up to repatriate over 100 individuals who arrived in small boats back to France.
In an article in The Daily Telegraph before a forthcoming speech, the leader of Reform declared that if he were to become prime minister, he would do away with the Human Rights Act.
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In addition, he proposed withdrawing the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and other international agreements, branding them as «negative influences» that have impeded deportation efforts.
If the UK were to exit the ECHR, it would join Russia and Belarus as the only European countries not part of the convention.
Reform asserts that the Human Rights Act in the UK would be replaced by a British Bill of Rights, which would exclusively apply to British citizens and individuals with a lawful right to reside in the country.
Individuals arriving in small boats would not have the right to seek asylum. They would be accommodated in former military installations before being repatriated to their nation of origin or other countries such as Rwanda.
One in, one out
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer is reportedly poised to enforce one of his key strategies to address the small boats crisis in the coming weeks.
As per The Times, the reciprocal migrant arrangement he agreed upon with France’s Emmanuel Macron earlier this year will result in the repatriation of more than 100 individuals in the near future.
The publication noted that there are numerous migrants presently in detention, with some detained over the recent holiday weekend, who may be among the first group sent back to France.
In return, the UK is expected to receive an equivalent number of asylum seekers in France with connections to Britain.
Read more: How will the one in, one out deal work?
Sir Keir Starmer hopes his deal with Emmanuel Macron will help. Pic: Reuters
A record-breaking 28,288 individuals have crossed the Channel in small boats this year, marking a 46% increase compared to the same period last year.
Although more boats were observed crossing on Monday, the official figures will not be released by the Home Office until later.
Sir Keir is facing mounting pressure from within his own party to address the issue, with former home secretary under Tony Blair, Lord Blunkett, cautioning that the public «will turn on» him.
However, it seems they may have already done so – a recent YouGov poll revealed that 71% of the population believe the prime minister is handling the small boats crisis poorly.
Protests have erupted outside hotels used to accommodate asylum seekers over the weekend, and the government is bracing for additional legal challenges from local authorities regarding their utilization.
Throughout 2025, Labour has suffered setbacks in opinion polls, with Reform consistently leading the way.