Nigel Farage has vowed that, if he becomes Prime Minister, five deportation flights would leave the UK every day under a radical plan to tackle illegal immigration. The Reform UK leader warned Britain was facing a “massive crisis” and insisted that detention and deportation are the only ways to regain control of the country’s borders.

At the heart of the proposal, Operation Restoring Justice, is emergency legislation known as the Illegal Migration (Mass Deportation) Bill. It would bar anyone arriving in the UK by small boats from claiming asylum and require them to be held in detention centres on surplus RAF and military bases.

Mr Farage told The Times: “These facilities, capable of housing 24,000 people within 18 months, would be basic prefabricated buildings with minimal amenities. Detainees would be barred from leaving or applying for bail.

“The message is simple. If you come, you won’t stay. Paying a trafficker to cross the Channel will not secure you a future in Britain.”

Reform UK intends to strike agreements with countries such as Afghanistan and Eritrea to return migrants, despite serious concerns about human rights abuses in both nations.

As a backup, Clacton MP Mr Farage suggested: “We could send people to third countries like Rwanda and Albania, or use British overseas territories such as Ascension Island as temporary holding sites.

“We would also offer a voluntary returns scheme, giving migrants £2,500 to deport themselves on government-paid flights within six months.”

The party estimates the plan will cost £10 billion over five years but argues it would ultimately save the government money by cutting £7 billion a year currently spent on asylum hotels and support.

Mr Farage said: “Anyone who attempts to return to the UK after deportation or destroys their identity documents will face criminal charges. The government must be tough and uncompromising to deter illegal migration.”

Reform UK would also replace the European Convention on Human Rights with a British Bill of Rights, Mr Farage stressed. He said: “This would prioritise citizens over foreigners while using terms such as liberty and freedom. It is necessary to ensure parliament retains sovereignty and to remove legal obstacles to deportation.”

The scale of Mr Farage’s proposals is unprecedented, with the party promising a dramatic expansion of detention capacity. Military bases and temporary facilities would be repurposed to house thousands of migrants under strict supervision.

Mr Farage said: “We cannot allow the UK to be overwhelmed. These measures are about ensuring that our borders are respected and that those who break our laws face consequences.”

The plan relies heavily on international agreements, using diplomatic leverage and financial incentives to encourage countries to accept the return of failed asylum seekers.

Mr Farage said: “We will use every tool at our disposal to reach agreements with governments. Our priority is returning people safely but firmly, so the message is clear: the UK is not an open door for illegal arrivals.”

Critics argue the proposals face serious legal, logistical, and political obstacles. Courts could block deportations to countries with documented human rights abuses, and overseas territories such as Ascension Island would require major infrastructure work before they could hold large numbers of people.

Mr Farage said: “We are under no illusion about the challenges, but inaction is not an option. The British people expect their government to take decisive steps to protect the nation.”

The proposals have already sparked protests outside facilities housing asylum seekers, with Mr Farage encouraging peaceful demonstrations.

He explained: “People are frustrated and rightly concerned. Peaceful protest is their right, but we cannot allow illegal migration to continue unchecked.”

As the next general election approaches, Reform UK is positioning immigration as the central issue. Mr Farage said: “This is about taking back control and sending an unmistakable signal: Britain’s borders, laws, and people come first. We will act decisively, and those who attempt to circumvent the system will face the consequences.”