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Reform UK has announced its plan to host migrant detention facilities in constituencies that have voted for Green representation.

(103 Posts)
LemonJam Mon 04-May-26 12:20:09

Some early reactions:
1) The Scottish Greens’ co-leader, Ross Greer, has dismissed Reform UK’s plan as “pathetic” and “Trumpesque”. He said: Reform are now openly threatening voters and not only that they’re threatening them with a power they don’t actually have. This is absolutely pathetic. People across Scotland are proud of the fact that this is a welcoming country that shows solidarity to people who need it. Reform are essentially saying ‘If you don’t vote the way we want you to, we will punish you’.

2) Fraser Nelson, Times columnist, “Another significant evolution in Reform’s style of politics. Its proposed internment camps will only be built in parts of the country that vote for its rivals. This is a new departure for UK politics: rejecting the idea of PM-for-all and instead a new partisan style.

3) Gideon Rachman, the Financial Times’ chief foreign affairs commentator, “I think most British people believe in the basic principle that no matter who you vote for, the government will treat you equally under the law. Yusuf’s plan to put detention camps in Green voting areas violates that. It is trolling as public policy and I think will damage Reform.

4) David Aaronovitch, the Radio 4, “The practical and legal problems seem insuperable. No non Reform local council would agree to it. So it’s not really a serious policy. The biggest concentrations of illegal migrants are almost certainly in the cities. You shouldn’t confuse them with the asylum seekers being accommodated in hostels. It’s likely that potential Green voters are already living among them”.

Maremia Mon 04-May-26 12:32:59

For this to happen they would have to be voted in.

twaddle Mon 04-May-26 12:35:29

Maremia

For this to happen they would have to be voted in.

Unfortunately, it's enough of a bribe to ensure that they will in some areas.

Chocolatelovinggran Mon 04-May-26 12:41:40

Mr Trump would approve, which means that it is a petty, vengeful, poorly thought through strategy

Cold Mon 04-May-26 12:57:32

They are sounding more and more like Trump

Kandinsky Mon 04-May-26 13:02:13

Can’t see the problem?
Surely anyone who votes Green would welcome having 1000’s of migrants living amongst them?
I’m surprised they’d have an issue tbh.

LemonJam Mon 04-May-26 13:03:59

It's a shift in UK politics I've not seen before- ie using a threat to secure votes. The consequence, if you do not vote for us, we will be that we enact the threat, for your area but not the areas in which we won the constituency vote. This just may be the first of many threats. That is, a dictator/authoritarian style of campaigning and subsequent government.

A new low.

JaneJudge Mon 04-May-26 13:07:45

does anyone here live near a detention centre?

the one near me is nowhere near a city and as far as I know, it doesn't cause any problems

I know the rhetoric they are using is wrong but surely wherever these places are, if run properly they shouldn't be an issue

LizzieDrip Mon 04-May-26 13:17:13

Absolutely a new low LemonJam.

Not only bribing voters but stating that, under a Reform government, people would be treated differently according to how they voted.

This goes far wider than where immigrants are housed.

It goes against the very principals of our democracy.

A UK government treats all citizens equally under the law, regardless of which party they vote for.

My initial response to this post was that people would be horrified by Reform’s proposal … clearly not🤷‍♀️

Casdon Mon 04-May-26 13:52:02

I don’t think they have cottoned on yet to the fact that proclamations like this won’t win them any new voters. What it will do is reinforce their rhetoric with some existing supporters, who would be very disappointed when they couldn’t deliver on it if they ever did get into power.

fancythat Mon 04-May-26 13:53:38

I cant take some of the things said in politics, seriously any more.

BlueBelle Mon 04-May-26 13:57:25

Kandinsky This country is built by immigrants and many came in boats my ancestors certainly did, and maybe yours did too !

nanna8 Mon 04-May-26 13:59:51

The Vikings did but that was a while ago now and they were better boats

Whitewavemark2 Mon 04-May-26 14:12:41

I would have thought that this is illegal under the 1983 Act.

Punishing voters for not voting for you must be illegal surely!!

If it isn’t that they need to change the Act pdq.

JaneJudge Mon 04-May-26 14:18:36

but why is it a punishment? some has to live by a detention centre

it is just feeding into fear and hate

Maremia Mon 04-May-26 14:19:44

Yes, silly and vindictive. Just like Trump.

Nandalot Mon 04-May-26 14:28:29

nanna8

The Vikings did but that was a while ago now and they were better boats

So did the Angles, the Saxons, Jutes and the Normans.

Wyllow3 Mon 04-May-26 14:30:36

I am not the slightest bit surprised.

M0nica Mon 04-May-26 14:36:23

Blackmail, that is how low Reform will sink. I would never vote for a blackmailer, the lowest of the low.

LemonJam Mon 04-May-26 15:01:32

JaneJudge

but why is it a punishment? some has to live by a detention centre

it is just feeding into fear and hate

Because Reform are introducing this plan as a 'punishment' for voters that do not vote for Reform. Reform is using this "punishment' as a threat, to persuade, frighten or coerce people to vote for the Reform party.

It is democratic to position detention centres in the most appropriate, available, cost efficient, fit for purpose locations with a contract that is not costly to terminate as the need reduces over time ( which is another key plank of Reform policies) and the detention centre closes. It is authoritarian and vengeful to locate mention centres soley in areas of Green political control as a punishment to the majority of voters in that area. Thats is, it is undemocratic to introduce Reform criteria to "favour" Reform voters and "punish' none Reform voters.

Overtly, Reform does not seek to govern democratically. This particular Reform threat might just be the thin end of the wedge, with more such threat policies introduced over time. This would increasingly move the UK away from being a democracy towards an authoritarian regime.

LizzieDrip Mon 04-May-26 15:04:05

JaneJudge

but why is it a punishment? some has to live by a detention centre

it is just feeding into fear and hate

JaneJudge it’s about the wider implications and principles of democracy - not just about where immigrants are housed.

For instance, if Reform won the next GE (God forbid), but my constituency voted in a Labour MP, I would not expect my town to be treated differently to others (on any issue) just because we voted Labour.

That’s the foundation of democracy. We all accept the result of the GE and whichever party wins, governs over all of us equally.

I agree with other posters on here, it’s probably either just Reform loud mouthed rhetoric, and best ignored, or it’s illegal.

However, I find the fact that Reform are even contemplating this extremely worrying.

LemonJam Mon 04-May-26 15:12:07

fancythat

I cant take some of the things said in politics, seriously any more.

Do you think Reform announcing this plan this as a joke and has no foundation or intention?

We can all keep our fingers crossed that is the case. However if Reform proceed to implement their plans, if and when they are elected, you will then realise they meant what they said.

What do you think Reform would do in office if not what they say they are going to do?

Oreo Mon 04-May-26 15:15:27

Constituencies that vote in a Green candidate ( bonkers) surely would be chuffed by having a migrant detention centre built near them wouldn't they? Or maybe they would prefer it built in someone else's backyard🤔
In any case I don’t suppose it will really happen.

LizzieDrip Mon 04-May-26 15:16:23

LemonJam 👏👏👏

fancythat Mon 04-May-26 15:21:49

LemonJam

fancythat

I cant take some of the things said in politics, seriously any more.

Do you think Reform announcing this plan this as a joke and has no foundation or intention?

We can all keep our fingers crossed that is the case. However if Reform proceed to implement their plans, if and when they are elected, you will then realise they meant what they said.

What do you think Reform would do in office if not what they say they are going to do?

Do I think it will end up happening?
No.

For one reason or another, no.

Just like upteen other political plans by other political parties.