'Call for unity' after Reform deportation pledge

Nigel Farage pledged mass deportations if he was elected as Prime Minister

An open letter calling for "unity and compassion" after Reform UK pledged mass deportations has been signed by over 2,000 people, a charity has said.

In a speech at London Oxford Airport on Tuesday, Nigel Farage said his party would be prepared to deport 600,000 migrants over five years if it won power at the next election.

Oxfordshire-based charity Asylum Welcome organised a letter accusing Farage of using "vulnerable people" as "political football", which it said has been signed by over 2,000 people including the Bishop of Oxford and three Oxfordshire MPs.

The BBC has contacted Reform UK for comment.

During Tuesday's speech, Farage said his party would bar anyone who comes to the UK on small boats from claiming asylum, under plans announced earlier.

The party says it would make £2bn available to offer payments or aid to countries like Afghanistan to take back migrants, with sanctions potentially imposed on uncooperative countries.

'Isolation and despair'

In response, the letter said asylum seekers were "already traumatised by what they have endured" and the pledge exacerbated "their isolation and despair".

"At the same time, we also witness asylum seekers' resilience, dignity, mutual solidarity and eagerness to contribute to British society," it said.

"Their perspective, and the compassion shown by many local people, is too often missing from public debate."

The letter also said asylum seekers included families, children, LGBTQ+ people fleeing persecution, political activists, journalists, religious minorities, and men escaping forced conscription, and were not from "a single group".

Nigel Farage unveiled his party's plans to tackle illegal migration in Oxfordshire this week

The charity said that signatories of the letter included faith leaders, MPs, local political leaders and individuals from charitable organisations.

Chief executive of Asylum Welcome Hari Read said the number of people signing the letter "shows that our community rejects division and stands alongside people seeking sanctuary".

"We're living through difficult times, and acts of kindness make a world of difference," he said.