Church censure over Reform’s ‘kneejerk mass deportations’ sparks anger

FURY erupted yesterday after the Archbishop of York said the UK should resist Nigel Farage’s “kneejerk” plan for the mass deportation of illegal migrants

- Martyn Brown Political Editor

Stephen Cottrell, who is acting head of the Church of England, claimed Reform UK’s policy does not offer any “long-term solution”.

But Reform deputy leader Richard Tice insisted the Archbishop was wrong, and that deporting 600,000 illegal immigrants puts the rights of British citizens first.

Mr Tice said: “All of it is wrong because our policy on asylum seekers and removing those who are here illegally is to look after the people that the Government is supposed to look after, which is the British people - to make them more prosperous, to improve the quality of public services.”

He added: “You've got a Government that’s admitted the opposite is true. They're more interested in protecting the rights of people who've come here illegally, therefore criminals, than looking after the rights of British citizens.

“That’s the dividing line, and that’s why the latest poll shows that, at 35%, we're 15 points ahead of a disappearing Labour Party.”

But when asked about Reform’s deportation policy on Sky News, Mr Cottrell, who is leading the Church until a new Archbishop of Canterbury is not offering any long-term solutions to the big issues which are convulsing our world, which lead to this.” Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson also weighed into the row, claiming that “whipping up anger” serves Reform’s political interests.

Mr Tice hit back, insisting that it was “ridiculous” to suggest the party supports anything other than lawful, peaceful protests.