London, UK – The political landscape in the United Kingdom is once again embroiled in controversy as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party faces widespread criticism for its latest proposal concerning illegal migrants. The party’s pledge to construct detention centres specifically in areas that vote for the Green Party, should Reform UK enter government, has been met with outrage, with critics drawing stark parallels to racially charged political campaigns of the 1960s.

A source within the Green Party, speaking to Middle East Eye, denounced the proposal as “reminiscent” of the Conservative Party’s notorious racist campaigning tactics from the 1960s. This comparison underscores a deep concern that such policies risk dragging British politics back to a darker era of division and prejudice.

Reform UK, which has previously vowed to deport 600,000 illegal migrants and establish new detention facilities capable of holding up to 24,000 individuals, doubled down on its controversial approach. Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesperson, explicitly stated on Sunday that a Reform government would ensure no migrant detention facilities are placed in constituencies with a Reform MP or in areas where Reform controls the council.

Instead, Yusuf declared, “And of the remaining areas, we will prioritise Green-controlled parliamentary constituencies and Green-controlled councils to locate the detention centres.” He starkly summarized the policy: “Put simply, if you vote in a Reform council or Reform MP, we guarantee you won’t have a detention centre near you. If you vote Green, there’s a good chance you will.”

In a scathing retort, a Green Party source told Middle East Eye that “The shine is coming off Nigel Farage. He is desperate and his own voters are starting to see him for the establishment stooge he is.” The source directly linked the policy to the “Peter Griffiths posters of 1964,” referencing a Conservative politician infamous for circulating racist flyers in Smethwick, West Midlands, during the 1964 election campaign with the abhorrent slogan: “If you want a n—-r for a neighbour, vote Labour.” This historical echo is particularly chilling, highlighting the perceived regression in political discourse.

Broader Condemnation

The divisive pledge has not only drawn fire from the left but also from sections of the British right, indicating a rare moment of cross-spectrum condemnation. Fraser Nelson, a columnist for The Times, described the policy as a “new departure for UK politics,” signaling a rejection of the traditional “PM-for-all” approach in favour of a partisan style that punishes political opponents.

Simon Clarke, director of the right-wing think tank UK Onward, unequivocally labeled Reform’s proposal as “abhorrent.” He argued that “Zia is proposing the siting of detention centres expressly as a form of political punishment for people and places that don’t vote Reform – not just Green, but presumably Conservative, Liberal and Labour too.” Clarke further warned that such a policy would “almost certainly be deemed an abuse of ministerial power for political purposes, and as such would likely be stuck down in court before ever being implemented, wasting millions for the taxpayer without detaining anyone.”

Attempt to Circumvent Law

In a move that raises serious questions about the rule of law and democratic accountability, Yusuf announced that Reform would pass a new law specifically designed to prevent legal challenges from halting the construction of these detention centres. This proposed legislation would compel the government to build these facilities in Green-supporting areas, effectively attempting to bypass judicial oversight.

Yusuf justified this controversial stance by citing an internal Green policy document that states the party “wants to see a world without borders,” using this as a pretext for targeting Green-supporting constituencies with the detention centres. This selective targeting and legislative maneuvering highlight a troubling trend towards punitive governance.

Electoral Battleground

This announcement comes just days before the 7 May local elections, where both Reform and the Greens are vying for significant gains. Yusuf framed the upcoming elections as a “battle for the soul of Britain between Reform and the Greens,” asserting that “the failed era of the Tory-Labour uniparty is over.” However, the methods proposed by Reform UK in this “battle” are drawing international scrutiny and raising alarms about the direction of British politics.