The government of Gibraltar has criticized Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party after a member of parliament refused to dismiss the idea of relocating asylum seekers there. Sarah Pochin sparked controversy by avoiding a direct answer on whether migrants could be deported to British overseas territories, including the Falkland Islands. When pressed during a debate, Ms. Pochin declined to rule out the possibility, stating, “No, I will not exclude any potential policy.”
Nigel Farage had previously promised to deport 600,000 individuals from the UK within five years if elected, but the destination for these deportations remains unclear.
In response to the speculation, a spokesperson for Gibraltar’s government informed national broadcaster GBC that immigration policies fall under Gibraltar’s jurisdiction, and they explicitly oppose processing asylum seekers on the territory due to both policy reasons and limited space constraints.
During a parliamentary debate on asylum accommodations, Labour MP Luke Charters expressed concern over the proposal to use overseas territories for asylum processing. Referring to his visits to the Falklands and other territories, he criticized the idea as unrealistic and troubling, urging Ms. Pochin to clarify Reform UK’s stance on using the Falkland Islands in their asylum plans.
When directly asked if asylum processing in the Falklands or Gibraltar was part of Reform UK’s policies, Ms. Pochin reiterated, “No, I will not eliminate any potential policy.” She declined further inquiries.
Gibraltar, often referred to as The Rock, spans a mere 2.6 square miles in size.