Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Britain should aim for net zero migration: Farage

The Reform party leader favours immigration of skilled workers in limited numbers and said the current level of migration is causing population explosion

Britain should aim for net zero migration: Farage

Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage has said that Britain should aim for net zero migration - it should allow up to 600,000 migrants a year as nearly that many people annually leave the country.

He said this after taking over as leader of the Reform party and announcing that he was standing for the general elections from Clacton, Essex.


He told BBC that skilled immigration would continue “in limited numbers” across a range of sectors, including care workers. He contrasted this with construction workers, where “we literally don’t need any” foreign workers.

The former Ukip and Brexit party leader pointed out that with 500,000 people leaving the UK every year there was “plenty of room” for overseas workers while bringing net migration towards zero.

Expressing concern over the current levels of migration, he said, “We cannot go on as we are, we have to limit numbers, our lives, our quality of life in this country is being diminished by the population explosion. If that means that in some sectors, there’d be shortages what that then means is that wages would go up and we’d start to encourage people to learn skills rather than heading off to university.”

Processing asylum seekers

Farage, however, tripped while spelling out his party’s plan to process asylum seekers.

The Reform party manifesto stated, “Asylum claims that arrive through safe countries will be processed rapidly offshore in British Overseas Territories. This will stop the scandal of undocumented asylum seekers absconding to work illegally or commit crimes.”

When pointed out that overseas territories include the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands, Farage admitted the idea was not 'terribly practical'.

When queried why it was on the party's website, he said, “Well I took over yesterday so give me more than 12 hours and I’ll sort a few things out.”

Decision to contest

Nigel Farage said he decided to stand for parliament out of a “terrible sense of guilt” that he was letting down his supporters.

He had earlier said he would sit out the election to concentrate on helping Donald Trump during his campaign in the US.

Farage said he changed his mind because he felt he was letting people down.

He told LBC that wherever he went people approached him and said they wanted him to contest the elections.

“I just got this terrible sense of guilt that I was letting them down and that I actually had to step up and do something”.

Farage's move is a major blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative party.

Addressing a news conference he said, "We are going to be the voice of opposition, and I tell you what, I have done it before, I'll do it again, I'll surprise everybody."

He said it was a fait accompli that Labour would win but that he wanted to position Reform as its main opponent.

Farage said he would lead a "political revolt" in Britain because "nothing in this country works anymore", citing problems with public services such as healthcare and roads.

More For You

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'
Dr Chaand Nagpaul

Exclusive: 'Starmer must fill NHS staffing defecit'

LABOUR's latest announcement to cut NHS waiting lists, while welcome, does not go far enough, the former leader of the doctors’ union, Chaand Nagpaul has told Eastern Eye.

Prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, unveiled his plans on Monday (6). He pledged Labour would set up more NHS hubs in community locations in England, and the service would make greater use of the private sector to help meet the challenge.

Keep ReadingShow less
Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'
Nazir Afzal

Exclusive: 'Stop spreading racial hatred'

POLITICIANS must dial down “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric and recognise the contributions of all communities in Britain, prominent south Asians have told Eastern Eye.

They are concerned that recent social media attacks on asylum seekers, immigrants, especially British Pakistanis, as well as ministers will lead to unnecessary deaths.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa-Nandy-Getty

The culture secretary retains powers to refer the case to the Competition and Markets Authority, which could trigger an investigation into press freedom concerns linked to Abu Dhabi’s involvement. (Photo: Getty Images)

Calls grow for Lisa Nandy to end Telegraph ownership stalemate

THE SALE of The Telegraph newspaper has drawn widespread political calls for culture secretary Lisa Nandy to intervene and end the prolonged uncertainty surrounding its ownership.

The newspaper has been in limbo for 20 months after an auction process initiated by RedBird IMI, an Abu Dhabi-backed investment fund, failed to secure a suitable buyer.

Keep ReadingShow less
illegal-migrants-getty

According to government data, over 36,800 people crossed the Channel in 2024. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Labour government reports highest illegal migrant removals since 2018

THE LABOUR government announced on Thursday that it had removed 16,400 illegal migrants since taking office in July, the fastest rate of removals since 2018.

On taking office, prime minister Keir Starmer scrapped the previous Conservative government's scheme to send migrants who arrive illegally to Rwanda, instead setting up a Border Security Command to crack down on illegal migration – a huge political issue in Britain.

Keep ReadingShow less
Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

Shafaz Khan (L), Choudhry Rashied (Photo: Home Office)

Two men jailed for trying to smuggle migrants into UK

TWO London-based men have been sentenced to over 10 years behind bars after being convicted of breaching UK immigration law by trying to smuggle four Indian migrants in a hidden van compartment disguised by a stack of dirty tyres.

According to the UK Home Office, British nationals Shafaz Khan and Choudhry Rashied, who operated under the alias ‘Manzar Mian Attique’, hid the group of migrants behind the tyres in a “purpose built” hidden space in the vehicle.

Keep ReadingShow less