Just 24 hours after making a controversial pledge to deport “absolutely anyone” arriving in the UK on small boats, Nigel Farage has backtracked on his statement. The initial comments were made during a heated press conference in Oxford, where he was accused of using divisive and harmful language.
Farage had announced plans to deport hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers within the first five years of a Reform government, including paying authoritarian regimes like the Taliban to take them back. He also stated that “everyone on arrival, including women and children, will be detained.”
However, at a press conference near Edinburgh on Wednesday, when questioned about whether his commitment to women’s safety was undermined by his plan to deport women and girls to countries where they face oppression and sexual violence, Farage denied this was the case. The event was held to introduce Graham Simpson, the latest defector from the Scottish Conservatives to Reform.
Farage said, “We’re not even discussing women and children at this stage—there are so many illegal males in Britain.” When asked if this meant women and children would be exempt from deportation, he clarified, “I didn’t say exempt forever, but at this stage, it is not part of our plan for the next five years.”
Farage also softened his stance on renegotiating the Good Friday Agreement after Northern Irish political parties criticized the idea as reckless. He acknowledged that “the Northern Ireland situation is deeply complex” and said it “will not be at the forefront of what we do.”
Additionally, Farage denied having a “woman problem,” pointing out that more women had joined Reform over the summer and were becoming influential within the party.
He described Reform as a “rapidly evolving political movement in Scotland,” highlighting the party’s strong performance in the Hamilton by-election in June, where candidate Ross Lambie won 26% of the vote. Farage predicted a near-total defeat for the Scottish Conservatives in next May’s Holyrood elections.
Simpson is now Reform’s only MSP in the Scottish Parliament and the party’s second overall, following former Tory Michelle Ballantyne’s defection in the previous parliamentary session. Addressing his former colleagues, Simpson said, “To those with great ideas for Scotland who may have felt ignored: talk to me. My door will be open and receptive to the fresh thinking we need in politics.”
Over the summer, several anti-immigration protests took place outside asylum seeker accommodations in Scotland, including in Falkirk, Perth, and Aberdeen, though on a smaller scale than similar protests in England. These were often met with larger counter-protests against racism.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay commented that recent protests outside an asylum hotel in Falkirk were understandable after an Afghan asylum seeker, Sadeq Nikzad, 29, was jailed for nine years in June for raping a 15-year-old in October 2023.
Farage claimed his Tuesday press conference had “sparked the beginning of a national debate” and noted that “even the prime minister hasn’t attacked me on the idea that we should be deporting people who come illegally.” Downing Street, however, accused him of not taking his own plans seriously.
At Wednesday’s event, Simpson also denied being forced to apologize for his past behavior toward a junior female staff member.A Scottish Conservative source told reporters that he was “a pathetic, nasty little man who won’t be missed.” The source added, “Just last year, he had to apologise to a young female staff member for behaving in a completely inappropriate, bullying, and intimidating way toward her.”
Simpson denied the allegation, calling it “absolutely untrue.” He stated, “Any internal matters will be handled internally, and that’s how I’ll leave it. I certainly don’t have a problem with women.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Nigel Farage backtracking on his small boat migrant deportation promise written in a clear and natural tone
General Beginner Questions
1 What was Nigel Farages original promise
He promised that if his party Reform UK came to power they would deport every single migrant who arrived in the UK illegally by small boat across the English Channel
2 What exactly did he say to backtrack on that promise
He stated that it wouldnt be physically possible to deport everyone and that his policy would now focus on detaining all new arrivals offshore while their asylum claims are processed only deporting those whose claims are rejected
3 Why is this a big deal
Its a significant change because the hardline promise to deport everyone was a central and popular part of his partys platform and a key issue for his supporters
4 When did he change his position
He made these new comments in July 2024 during the general election campaign
Reasons Context Questions
5 Why did he backtrack on the promise
He cited practical and legal realities saying mass deportation on that scale is not physically possible and would be challenged in court causing long delays
6 Is this a common problem with political promises
Yes its often called campaign rhetoric versus governing reality Promises made during elections can sometimes be difficult or impossible to implement in practice due to cost logistics or legal barriers
7 Are there any existing laws that make this difficult
Yes The UK is a signatory to international agreements like the European Convention on Human Rights and the Refugee Convention which guarantee individuals the right to have their asylum claim heard and protect them from being sent back to a country where they face serious harm
Impact Reaction Questions
8 How have people reacted to this change
Reactions are mixed Supporters of tougher immigration policies see it as a betrayal and a sign of weakness Critics of his original policy see it as an admission that his initial plan was never feasible
9 What does this mean for the UKs immigration policy
It highlights the extreme difficulty any government faces in implementing a 100 deportation policy for Channel crossings It shifts the debate towards offshore processing and detention similar to policies seen in Australia or the UK
