Immigration policy Archbishop 'interfering in politics' says Tice

Reform UK has engaged in a war of words with the Church of England over the party's plans to deport all asylum seekers who arrive in small boats, after the church's most senior bishop called the proposal "isolationist, short-term and kneejerk".

- Kiran Stacey

Richard Tice, the party's deputy leader, hit back against the archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, yesterday, accusing him of interfering in domestic politics.

This week Nigel Farage, Reform's leader, announced the party's immigration policy, under which Britain would leave the European convention on human rights (ECHR) and deport people who arrived by small boat from France.

Cottrell told Sky News's Trevor Phillips: "We should actively resist the kind of isolationist, short-term, kneejerk 'send them home' response." He added: "Mr Farage is saying the things he's saying but he is not offering any long-term solution to the big issues which are convulsing our world, which lead to this."