By WTF Land
Nigel Farage is no stranger to shaking up British politics, and in September 2025, he's at it again with Reform UK's mass deportation plan. As the party surges in polls, leading Labour by 15 points, Farage announced a policy to deport 600,000 illegal migrants if Reform wins power. It's a bombshell that's got everyone talking – from Westminster to the pub. But is this the fix Britain needs for its immigration woes, or is it a step too far? Let's dive in.
Reform's plan is simple but sweeping: end indefinite leave to remain for migrants, forcing reapplications under stricter rules. Those who don't meet criteria – like English proficiency, no criminal record, and community contribution – could face deportation. Farage argues it's essential to save billions in taxpayer money and restore control over borders. With over 28,000 Channel crossings this year, and hotels costing millions to house asylum-seekers, many Brits are nodding along. "We can't afford this anymore," Farage said at a recent rally, echoing sentiments from frustrated voters.
The backdrop is a summer of unrest. Protests outside asylum hotels, like in Epping where a court ordered evictions after local disruptions, have highlighted tensions. In London, 110,000 joined Tommy Robinson's "Unite the Kingdom" march on 13 September, clashing with police and injuring 26 officers. Similar scenes in Glasgow on 20 September saw hundreds protesting racism, but anti-immigration voices dominated. The government, under Starmer, is scrambling – speeding up asylum appeals and promising to clear backlogs – but critics say it's not enough.
Starmer slammed the plan as "racist" and "immoral" at the Labour conference in Liverpool, warning it could "tear the country apart." Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed this, with Mahmood announcing new conditions for leave to remain, including volunteering and no benefits claims. Labour's aim is to draw a "clear dividing line" with Reform, but polls show Farage's message is landing. A TUC/Hope Not Hate survey ranks immigration fourth in voter priorities, but Reform leads on it.
Farage, fresh from testifying in the US on internet censorship, is positioning Reform as the "real opposition." His party's membership has soared to 240,000, and with projections of 352 seats in a snap election, Labour is worried. Internal Labour tensions are boiling – Andy Burnham hints at a leadership bid, while Starmer urges unity against Reform's "politics of grievance."
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