Farage pledges to 'send Ian Huntley to El Salvador' as Reform UK unveils plans to tackle 'lawless Britain'
Nigel Farage has vowed to send UK criminals - including Soham child murderer Ian Huntley, to super-jails in El Salvador in a bid to tackle what he calls 'lawless Britain'.
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The Reform UK leader unveiled plans on Monday that would see British criminals sent to the world's toughest prisons in a move that would mimic recent measures implemented by Trump's administration.
The plans form part of his party's zero-tolerance approach to crime, should Reform come to power at the next election.
‘If it means Iain Huntley has to go to El Salvador, so be it’ declared Nigel Farage as he addressed waiting media in London.
“Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen.
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“We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons.
“If you’re a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,” he added.
The speech saw Mr Farage joined by Reform MP Sarah Pochin, with the leader insisting he would solve prison overcrowding and end the early release of prisoners convicted of sex offenders, those carrying knives and other serious violent offenders.
The leader adopted a characteristically hardline approach, pledging 30,000 unfunded new prison places to tackle overcrowding, as well as appointing 30,000 more police officers within five years.
Ms Pochin, the Reform UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby, told the media that she would accept prisoners losing their human rights if it meant offenders leaving the country and unburdening overcrowded prisons.
The announcement also saw the party vow to deport 10,400 foreign offenders currently held in Britain's overcrowded jails.
Reform UK said it aims to halve crime in five years should the party come to power- requiring an estimated a £17.4 billion bill.
The proposals could see £3.48 billion added to the annual bill where crime and justice are concerned.
Mr Farage also pledged 12,400 new prison places on MoD land, costing around £5 billion.
The politician has yet to reveal how such measures would be funded and will likely face questions on the negotiation of return agreements for foreign offenders.
The Reform UK told The Telegraph his party will become the toughest party on law and order this country has ever seen.
"We will cut crime in half. We will take back control of our streets, we will take back control of our courts and prisons," he is expected to add.
However, Labour has since hit out at proposals, with Diana Johnson, the policing minister, insisting Reform is not serious about implementing real changes to the criminal justice system.
She added it was because the party “voted to try to block measures to crack down on knife crime, antisocial behaviour, shop theft and child sexual abuse”.
“They should focus more on practical solutions to support our police, combat crime, deliver justice for victims of crime, rather than chasing headlines, spouting slogans and trying to divide communities,” she added.
However, on Sunday Mr Farage insisted: “For too long, Labour and the Tories have sent the message that crime in Britain carries little to no consequence. Reform will change that.
"If you’re a criminal, we are putting you on notice. In 2029 you have a choice to make: be a law-abiding citizen or face serious justice.”
Last month, the UK's prison population rose to around 87,334 people behind bars — just 2,239 short of full capacity.
In April, it was revealed that only 961 spaces were available to house offenders, meaning prisons were at 98.9% capacity.
The government figures saw Labour forced to amend the government's early release scheme, with prisoners now eligible for release after serving just a third of their sentences.