Starmer defended Reform UK’s immigration policies, emphasizing concerns about policy specifics rather than race, and criticized Nigel Farage’s proposals for mass deportations that could divide the country.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claims about London implementing Sharia Law as 'nonsense' and supported the view that Farage is not racist.

Farage responded to Labour’s accusations by warning that such rhetoric could incite violence and threaten his security, which he claims has recently been reduced by 75%.

The UK government is exploring legislative measures to clarify the application of the right to family life in immigration cases and reviewing how courts handle deportations on torture grounds.

Prime Minister Sunak highlighted that legal protections under Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR are being used to halt deportations, and suggested their interpretation may need reassessment.

Starmer acknowledged the unprecedented scale of mass migration and reaffirmed that genuine refugees fleeing persecution should still be granted asylum as a compassionate act.

Starmer criticized Nigel Farage’s claim that leaving the EU would not impact migration policies, pointing out that Brexit resulted in the UK losing the Dublin Agreement, which previously facilitated returns of asylum seekers.

Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden stated that the government will review the interpretation of certain European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) articles, such as Articles 3 and 8, without abandoning the convention, citing concerns about conditions in deportation countries.

The ongoing political debate reflects broader tensions over immigration, human rights, and national sovereignty, with calls for stricter controls amid rising migrant numbers.

Starmer announced that the UK will re-examine how international law, particularly the ECHR, is interpreted to address mass migration, emphasizing the need to adapt legal provisions without abolishing them.

Starmer blamed Brexit for the record surge in illegal Channel crossings in 2025, with over 33,000 arrivals, and stressed the importance of strengthening returns agreements with France.

Brexit has complicated efforts to remove migrants arriving via small boats due to the loss of agreements like the Dublin Regulation, prompting UK officials to seek new returns arrangements.