Farage proposes five-year suspension of asylum claims

Nigel Farage said Reform UK would suspend asylum claims for up to five years if it wins the next general election, due in 2029, and deport people whose applications are rejected or voided. The plan, announced on October 12, 2026, also proposes pressuring countries that refuse to accept deportees, including through visa restrictions, tariffs and other sanctions. Under the proposal, pending asylum applications would be declared void and new claims rejected. Reform has also said it would review asylum granted since 2024, with people from countries the home secretary deems safe potentially losing permission to remain. The party proposes ending most legal resettlement routes, while making exceptions for Ukrainians and, according to its policy document, Hong Kong residents with British national overseas passports. Reform home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said the party planned to deport more than one million people, including foreign criminals and others with no right to be in the UK. He said people would not be sent to face torture or death, and that third-country arrangements would be considered in difficult cases.