Reform UK is facing internal strife over disagreements on immigration policies. Home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf and economic leader Robert Jenrick clashed on the deportation of hundreds of thousands of individuals from the UK.
This discord coincides with challenges for Nigel Farage’s party, which has been embroiled in controversies following remarks made by their by-election candidate in Makerfield, who is up against Andy Burnham.
The rift emerged when the ex-Tory, in an interview with Sky News, stated that foreign residents legally residing in the UK and living in social housing would not automatically face deportation under a Reform Government. However, Yusuf contradicted this stance online, emphasizing that individuals living in taxpayer-funded social housing would fail the economic test, leading to deportation.
Labour immigration minister Mike Tapp criticized Reform UK, suggesting they lack a coherent plan and are improvising. Tapp highlighted Labour’s achievements in reducing net migration and enhancing public services, contrasting it with Reform UK’s internal conflicts.
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics revealed a significant drop in UK migration under the Labour Government, with net migration decreasing by 48% to 171,000 in the year to December 2025. This is the lowest level since early 2021, attributed to post-Brexit immigration policies and pandemic-related travel restrictions.