The government of Gibraltar has criticized Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party for not ruling out the possibility of sending asylum seekers to the territory. Sarah Pochin, an MP from Reform UK, faced scrutiny for refusing to guarantee that migrants would not be deported to British overseas territories, including the Falkland Islands. When questioned during a debate, Pochin declined to dismiss the idea, stating, “No, I will not rule out any possible policy.”
Nigel Farage has previously stated his intention to deport 600,000 individuals from the UK within five years if his party gains power, but there is uncertainty about the destination for these deportations.
In response, a spokesperson for Gibraltar’s government emphasized that immigration policy falls under the jurisdiction of the Gibraltar government, which has a firm stance against processing asylum seekers in the territory. They cited space limitations as a significant factor. Labour MP Luke Charters expressed concern over the potential use of overseas territories for asylum processing, urging Reform UK to rule out the inclusion of the Falkland Islands in their plans.
During the debate, Charters directly asked Pochin whether Reform UK would consider asylum processing in the Falklands or Gibraltar. Pochin’s response reiterated her refusal to exclude any policy options and declined further questioning.
Gibraltar, commonly known as The Rock, spans just 2.6 square miles in size.