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Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
‘Prisoners to El Saldavor' just shows Farage will say anything
How seriously should we take Reform UK? As a young Right-winger on the make in the foothills of his career, it is a question that vexes me on a daily basis. On paper, very: they now have a healthy opinion poll lead, won a storming victory at May's locals, and are on track for a majority at the next general election. My opinion of Sir Jake Berry is low. But is it jealousy? He saw which way the wind is blowing and fled to the sanctuary of Castle Reform before the defection drawbridge is drawn up. In branding Nigel Farage yesterday's man, in refusing to drink the Reform Kool Aid, have I hobbled my career? Yesterday's boy – c'est moi. And yet. Then I see an announcement like this morning's on crime, and I pause. Undoubtedly, Farage said all the right things. A pledge that a future Reform government will halve crime. A new prison building programme delivering 30,000 places. The deportation of foreign offenders, with the assistance of his new best friend Edi Rama, Albania's Prime Minister. An end to 'two-tier justice' and the early release of violent criminals and sex offenders. A 'three strikes' system for serious offenders. More police officers. Safer streets. Motherhood, apple pie, a BMW and bigger breasts for your wife. Ah. Wait. Sorry. Those last two weren't Farage today, but Boris Johnson, making the case for voting Conservative all the way back in 2005. I was put in mind of Johnson by Farage's announcement, if only because I can seem to remember hearing very similar pledges an election or two back. Yes, the prospect of sending the worst offenders to Nayib Bukele's El Salvador is an exciting addition to the roster. But we have heard so much of this before – the hollow promises of failed governments. Reform looks less like a radical departure from the old politics, but a miserable continuation of it. Successive ministers have presided over our worsening crime crisis, over the periodic emptying of our over-filled prisons, over a legal system that treats stupid tweets more harshly than sex crimes, over the tacit legalisation of shoplifting and burglary. Why would Home Secretary Darren Grimes, Justice Secretary David Bull, and the rest of Reform's gaggle of groupies, Z-list celebs, and Tory cast-offs succeed where their predecessors have not? Why should we think Farage – a metals trader turned TV host who has never held ministerial office or run a large organisation – has the answer? If both the Conservatives and Labour have been unable to control and overhaul Whitehall, how will Reform – especially when they will be facing concerted opposition from every aspect of the so-called establishment? Farage says he will bring in expertise from outside of politics. But, again, every incoming government pledges to do this. The number of ex-private sector ministers who have quit in disgust at their inability to circumvent Sir Humphrey are legion. Whitehall's anti-bodies – its resistance of misfits, weirdos, and talent – are very powerful. How will Farage surmount them? If Farage intends to spend the next four years genuinely planning his British Meiji Restoration – recruiting talent, plotting out policy and legislation, and wargaming the constant attempts to frustrate a Reform government – one could start to believe that he will succeed where the old parties have failed. I hold out hope. Britain needs radical change, and he is the man best-placed to deliver it. But how can I have faith that he will adopt this historical role when he goes on television to announce he would nationalise half the water industry with no clarity on the cost? I'll hold fire on my defection for the time being.
South Wales Argus
21-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Farage pledges target to halve crime if Reform enter government
Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48 billion annual bill for the party's plans on crime and justice. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: 'Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. 'We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. 'If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,' he added. Documents handed out at Monday's press conference show that the party estimate a £17.4 billion cost over the course of a five year parliament for their plans, with a £3.48 billion annual cost. Plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers take up the biggest chunk of this bill, estimated at £10.5 billion overall. Mr Farage has pledged 12,400 new prison places on MoD land at a cost of £5 billion, and five new 'Nightingale Prisons' to be built with the assistance of the Army. He also wants to see more than 10,000 more prison places freed up by deporting foreign criminals to their country of origin through bilateral agreements, and Mr Farage said he was 'in conversation with Edi Rama', the Albanian prime minister over prisoners. The party also wants prison places overseas in places such as El Salvador, a 'dynamic prisons' policy that the party estimates will cost £1.25 billion over the course of a parliament. Mr Farage said that he would be prepared to take back British criminals who are in foreign prisons as part of his plans. He told reporters at the press conference that 'of course we're prepared to take British prisoners from other parts of the world. 'That's fair, right and proper.' Mr Farage pledged that Monday's event was the start of a six-week campaign on law and order, as Parliament is about to begin its summer recess break.
Glasgow Times
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Farage pledges target to halve crime if Reform enter government
Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48 billion annual bill for the party's plans on crime and justice. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: 'Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. 'We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. 'If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,' he added. Documents handed out at Monday's press conference show that the party estimate a £17.4 billion cost over the course of a five year parliament for their plans, with a £3.48 billion annual cost. Plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers take up the biggest chunk of this bill, estimated at £10.5 billion overall. Mr Farage has pledged 12,400 new prison places on MoD land at a cost of £5 billion, and five new 'Nightingale Prisons' to be built with the assistance of the Army. He also wants to see more than 10,000 more prison places freed up by deporting foreign criminals to their country of origin through bilateral agreements, and Mr Farage said he was 'in conversation with Edi Rama', the Albanian prime minister over prisoners. The party also wants prison places overseas in places such as El Salvador, a 'dynamic prisons' policy that the party estimates will cost £1.25 billion over the course of a parliament. Mr Farage said that he would be prepared to take back British criminals who are in foreign prisons as part of his plans. He told reporters at the press conference that 'of course we're prepared to take British prisoners from other parts of the world. 'That's fair, right and proper.' Mr Farage pledged that Monday's event was the start of a six-week campaign on law and order, as Parliament is about to begin its summer recess break.
Leader Live
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Farage pledges target to halve crime if Reform enter government
Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48 billion annual bill for the party's plans on crime and justice. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: 'Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. 'We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. 'If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,' he added. Documents handed out at Monday's press conference show that the party estimate a £17.4 billion cost over the course of a five year parliament for their plans, with a £3.48 billion annual cost. Plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers take up the biggest chunk of this bill, estimated at £10.5 billion overall. Mr Farage has pledged 12,400 new prison places on MoD land at a cost of £5 billion, and five new 'Nightingale Prisons' to be built with the assistance of the Army. He also wants to see more than 10,000 more prison places freed up by deporting foreign criminals to their country of origin through bilateral agreements, and Mr Farage said he was 'in conversation with Edi Rama', the Albanian prime minister over prisoners. The party also wants prison places overseas in places such as El Salvador, a 'dynamic prisons' policy that the party estimates will cost £1.25 billion over the course of a parliament. Mr Farage said that he would be prepared to take back British criminals who are in foreign prisons as part of his plans. He told reporters at the press conference that 'of course we're prepared to take British prisoners from other parts of the world. 'That's fair, right and proper.' Mr Farage pledged that Monday's event was the start of a six-week campaign on law and order, as Parliament is about to begin its summer recess break.
Western Telegraph
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Farage pledges target to halve crime if Reform enter government
Proposals to recruit more police officers and create new prison places contribute to the estimated £3.48 billion annual bill for the party's plans on crime and justice. Speaking at a press conference in Westminster on Monday, Mr Farage said: 'Reform will be the toughest party on law and order and on crime that this country has ever seen. 'We will aim to cut crime by half in the first five years of Reform government. We will take back control of our streets. We will take back control of our courts, of our prisons. 'If you're a criminal, I am putting you on notice today that from 2029 or whenever that may be, either you obey the law or you will face very serious justice,' he added. Documents handed out at Monday's press conference show that the party estimate a £17.4 billion cost over the course of a five year parliament for their plans, with a £3.48 billion annual cost. Plans to recruit 30,000 more police officers take up the biggest chunk of this bill, estimated at £10.5 billion overall. Mr Farage has pledged 12,400 new prison places on MoD land at a cost of £5 billion, and five new 'Nightingale Prisons' to be built with the assistance of the Army. He also wants to see more than 10,000 more prison places freed up by deporting foreign criminals to their country of origin through bilateral agreements, and Mr Farage said he was 'in conversation with Edi Rama', the Albanian prime minister over prisoners. The party also wants prison places overseas in places such as El Salvador, a 'dynamic prisons' policy that the party estimates will cost £1.25 billion over the course of a parliament. Mr Farage said that he would be prepared to take back British criminals who are in foreign prisons as part of his plans. He told reporters at the press conference that 'of course we're prepared to take British prisoners from other parts of the world. 'That's fair, right and proper.' Mr Farage pledged that Monday's event was the start of a six-week campaign on law and order, as Parliament is about to begin its summer recess break.
