The government of Gibraltar has criticized Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party after a member of parliament refused to exclude the possibility of relocating asylum seekers to the territory. Sarah Pochin’s comments during a debate raised concerns when she declined to confirm that the party would not transfer migrants to British overseas territories, including the Falkland Islands. When pressed on the matter, Pochin stated that she would not dismiss any potential policy.
Nigel Farage has previously stated his intention to deport 600,000 individuals from the UK within five years if he gains power, although there is uncertainty regarding their destination.
In response to these discussions, a representative from Gibraltar’s government emphasized that immigration policies fall under the jurisdiction of the Gibraltar government, which has a firm stance against processing asylum seekers in the territory due to space limitations. During a parliamentary debate on asylum accommodations, Labour MP Luke Charters expressed unease about utilizing overseas territories for such purposes, urging Pochin to rule out the inclusion of the Falkland Islands in any asylum plans by Reform UK.
Charters directly questioned Pochin about Reform UK’s potential use of British overseas territories for asylum processing, to which Pochin reiterated her refusal to exclude any policy options. She declined to entertain further inquiries on the subject.
Gibraltar, also known as The Rock, spans just 2.6 square miles in size.