Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has slammed the Conservative Party for what he describes as “shameless posturing” over their plans to change Labour’s immigration laws.
The Tories have put forward a series of amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, which include proposals to deport all foreign nationals convicted of crimes and to raise the salary threshold for work visas to £38,700.
However, Farage has called out the Conservatives for their track record on immigration, pointing out that net migration to the UK hit record levels during their time in power.
He described their handling of immigration as one of the “biggest policy failures in modern British history” and said they should never be forgiven for it.
Farage argued that the Tories had 14 years to tackle illegal immigration and deport foreign criminals but failed to do so, allowing the problem to grow out of control. He also reminded people that in 2020, the Conservatives actually lowered the salary threshold for migrants by 30%, which led to a sharp increase in immigration.
Now, he says, the proposed new threshold of £38,700 is still £6,000 lower than the pre-2020 level when adjusted for inflation. Farage accused the Tories of not being serious about reducing immigration, despite promising to do so in multiple elections.
He stressed that Reform UK is the only party truly committed to ending mass immigration, leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), deporting illegal immigrants, and taking back control of the UK’s borders.
On the other hand, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp defended the Tory amendments, saying they show the party’s determination to protect British citizens by deporting foreign criminals.
He argued that if a foreign national commits a crime in the UK, they should be removed from the country without delay, and endless appeals should not be allowed.
Philp also proposed stopping the issuance of visas to countries that refuse to take back their own citizens, including criminals. This, he said, would force those countries to cooperate with the UK’s efforts to maintain border security.
The debate highlights the deep divisions and ongoing tensions over immigration policy in the UK. While the Conservatives are now pushing for stricter measures, critics like Farage argue that their past failures make their current proposals hard to trust.
Meanwhile, Reform UK is positioning itself as the only party willing to take decisive action on immigration, appealing to voters who feel let down by the mainstream parties. The issue remains a hot topic, with the public increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress in controlling borders and managing migration effectively.
