The government of Gibraltar has strongly criticized Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party after a member of parliament refused to exclude the possibility of relocating asylum seekers there. Sarah Pochin faced scrutiny for not definitively stating that the party would not transfer migrants to British overseas territories, including the Falkland Islands. When pressed during a debate, Ms. Pochin declined to dismiss the idea, stating, “No, I will not rule out any potential policy.”
Nigel Farage had previously declared plans to deport 600,000 individuals from the UK within five years if granted power, but the destination for these deportees remains uncertain.
In response to the situation, a representative from Gibraltar’s government informed the national broadcaster GBC that immigration policies fall under Gibraltar’s jurisdiction, clarifying that the territory does not support processing asylum seekers there as a matter of policy. They also highlighted the limited space available in Gibraltar as a contributing factor.
During a parliamentary discussion on asylum hotels, Labour MP Luke Charters expressed concerns about the proposal to involve British overseas territories in asylum processing. He urged Ms. Pochin to provide assurances that the Falkland Islands would not be part of Reform UK’s asylum strategy.
When directly questioned about the use of British overseas territories for asylum processing, Ms. Pochin reiterated her stance, refusing to rule out any potential policies and declining to entertain further inquiries.
Gibraltar, also known as The Rock, spans just 2.6 square miles in size.