The government in Gibraltar said it ‘rejects’ the possibility that UK asylum seekers could be sent there under Nigel Farage, after MP Sarah Pochin refused to rule it out
The government of Gibraltar has lashed out at Nigel Farage’s Reform UK after an MP refused to rule out sending asylum seekers there.
Sarah Pochin raised eyebrows after declining to say the party would not deport migrants to British overseas territories – which also include the Falkland Islands. Pressed during a debate on Monday, Ms Pochin refused to hose down the possibility, telling MPs: “No, I will not rule out any possible policy.”
Mr Farage has previously pledged to deport 600,000 people from the UK in five years if he gets into power. But there is confusion about where they would be sent to.
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A spokesperson for Gibraltar’s government told national broadcaster GBC: “Immigration policy is the competence of the Government of Gibraltar, which rejects the idea of processing asylum seekers here as a matter of policy.”
They said this was in addition to “obvious space constraints” in the territory. During a Westminster Hall debate on asylum hotels, Labour MP Luke Charters said: “As someone who’s visited the Falklands and other overseas territories, I find that deeply troubling and I find it deeply unrealistic as well.
“So perhaps she will hopefully give some assurance when she rises today that Reform UK will be ruling out the use of the Falkland Islands from from that asylum plan.
He later asked Ms Pochin: “Reform UK have mooted the idea of using British overseas territories as part of their asylum processing plans. Would you use this occasion now to rule out any asylum processing either taking place in the Falklands or Gibraltar as part of Reform UK policies?”
Ms Pochin responded: “No, I will not rule out any possible policy.” She then refused to take any follow-up questions.
Gibraltar, known as The Rock, is just 2.6 square miles in size.