Zia Yusuf took to the Today Programme to explain Reform’s major new deportation policy, as the BBC appeared to object to factual claims.
The BBC’s Emma Barnett has been slammed over a “deranged outburst” that occurred while she quizzed Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf about the party’s new illegal immigration policy. The top Today Programme host claimed Mr Yusuf “can’t say that!” As he insisted that Britain would save billions by deporting illegal migrants, including on the criminal justice system.
Asked how Reform would fund its £10 billion programme for flying illegal migrants out of the country, Ms Barnett appeared confused about how mass deportations would bring down the existing £25 billion cost of illegal migrants. Mr Yusuf explained: “That’s exactly the money that’s going to be saved, because we’re not going to have to pay for these people to be in hotels in perpetuity, or in houses of multiple occupancy. By the way, we haven’t even talked about the cost of the criminal justice system, the people coming across the Channel illegally are meaningfully more likely to be convicted of serious offences including rape and murder.”
Hundreds more illegal migrants arrived this weekend (Image: Getty)
The top BBC host interjected: “Now hang on, you can’t say that! You cannot say that, there are not facts to back that up!”
However she was promptly slapped down as Mr Yusuf pointed out: “There absolutely are facts to back that up.
“Afghan nationals are 22 times more likely to be convicted of a sex offence compared to the native British people – those are government statistics and it’s not a surprise.”
Ms Barnett also appeared bewildered at Mr Yusuf’s use of the phrase “native British person”, which he simply explained as “citizens of this country”.
Mr Yusuf moved on and said Britons “have had enough” of the never-ending flow of illegal migrants into Britain, including 650 yesterday.
He blasted: “The British people have had quite enough of their goodwill being taken advantage of.
Nigel Farage will unveil his plan this morning (Image: Getty)
“Over 180,000 people have turned up on the beaches of the United Kingdom over the last 8.5 years alone without an invitation, completely illegally – more people than stormed the beaches at D-Day.”
Reform UK will confirm plans to put illegal migrants in dedicated detention centres, moving them out of hotels and homes in the community.
The party has not yet set out where the detention centres would be, arguing that it could give Labour the ability to kibosh their plans.
Asked if voters would be allowed to know whether Reform plans on putting detention centres near them, Mr Yusuf argued Britons have a choice between his party’s plans or continuing with the current situation.
He also pointed out that Reform’s detention centres would be guarded and illegal migrants would not be allowed to leave the centres, guaranteeing a boost in community safety.
Mr Yusuf added that the detention centres would take up less than one third of a square mile of land.
He claimed that unveiling the short list of potential locations at this stage would see the Labour government move to swiftly sell the land off to developers and block Reform’s plan.
Former GB News host Colin Brazier branded the host’s questioning as a “deranged outburst”.
He added: “To his credit Zia Yusuf calmly pointed to data showing how illegals were more likely to carry out crimes.”
