Gabrielle Wilde
Guest Reporter
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage launched a blistering attack on the Conservative Party during BBC Question Time, condemning their record on immigration control.
The heated exchange occurred during a panel discussion featuring Conservative minister Kevin Hollinrake, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, and political strategist Alastair Campbell.
Farage accused the Tories of wilful deception over their repeated promises to reduce net migration numbers.
His forceful criticism came as the panel debated the government's immigration policies and their implementation.
Conservative minister Kevin Hollinrake defended his party's position, pointing towards future plans for immigration control.
Kevin Hollinrake explained: "In 2029 if we get elected this could be down to the numbers that people think are right.
"Migration is way too high no question about it but illegal migration, which we have been frustrated at every turn by this, 134 times Labour voted against Rwanda.
"We know this is a deterrent, we know that this is the right policy but was challenged at every turn by Labour.
"We will be able to put these controls in place to control this."
Farage responded: "How can you as the Conservative party keep a straight face to this audience having promised in 2010, 2015, 2017 that you would reduce net migration to tens of thousands a year, having promised in 2019 substantial reductions and net migration is nearly a million. You have broken your promise time after time and you will never be forgiven for it.
"You have not got a cat's chance in hell of winning the next general election. Shame on you for what you have done, it was willful deceptive and wrong.
"The worst part of this is that the last two million that came on your watch, only 16 per cent of them are working meaning they are dependents using schools and the health service and we now know the truth that selective immigration can be very good for the economy.
"Now not only is it a catastrophe for people's way of life, denying them access to services, it is making Britain poorer.
"The fact that Keir Starmer today did not make it a priority shows it will only get worse."
The comments came on the same day Starmer delivered a major speech near London outlining his government's priorities.
Starmer's speech, focusing on what he terms "ambitious milestones," was set to emphasise "relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people."
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The heated exchange occurred during a panel discussion featuring Conservative minister Kevin Hollinrake, former Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, and political strategist Alastair Campbell.
Farage accused the Tories of wilful deception over their repeated promises to reduce net migration numbers.
His forceful criticism came as the panel debated the government's immigration policies and their implementation.
Conservative minister Kevin Hollinrake defended his party's position, pointing towards future plans for immigration control.
Kevin Hollinrake explained: "In 2029 if we get elected this could be down to the numbers that people think are right.
"Migration is way too high no question about it but illegal migration, which we have been frustrated at every turn by this, 134 times Labour voted against Rwanda.
"We know this is a deterrent, we know that this is the right policy but was challenged at every turn by Labour.
"We will be able to put these controls in place to control this."
Farage responded: "How can you as the Conservative party keep a straight face to this audience having promised in 2010, 2015, 2017 that you would reduce net migration to tens of thousands a year, having promised in 2019 substantial reductions and net migration is nearly a million. You have broken your promise time after time and you will never be forgiven for it.
"You have not got a cat's chance in hell of winning the next general election. Shame on you for what you have done, it was willful deceptive and wrong.
"The worst part of this is that the last two million that came on your watch, only 16 per cent of them are working meaning they are dependents using schools and the health service and we now know the truth that selective immigration can be very good for the economy.
"Now not only is it a catastrophe for people's way of life, denying them access to services, it is making Britain poorer.
"The fact that Keir Starmer today did not make it a priority shows it will only get worse."
The comments came on the same day Starmer delivered a major speech near London outlining his government's priorities.
Starmer's speech, focusing on what he terms "ambitious milestones," was set to emphasise "relentlessly driving real improvements in the lives of working people."
Find Out More...