Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Image: Getty)
Reform UK will pledge to use tariffs to force countries to take back migrants in plans set to be announced tomorrow. Nigel Farage’s party had already vowed to impose visa bans on those wanting to visit Britain legally from countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Syria, Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia if they do not accept returns of illegal immigrants and foreign criminals.
But Reform is now planning to go further by also threatening sanctions such as tariffs and banning foreign airlines from using British airspace. The party highlighted Egypt as a possible target for the measures. Reform leader Mr Farage said: “I will not tolerate countries who won’t take back illegal migrants. I’ll impose tariffs, airline bans and visa bans on any country that refuses. Only Reform will end the invasion of our country forever.”
Reform also plans to strike deals with third countries to deport those “extreme cases” where no country is willing to take them back, or it is inappropriate to return them to their home country. The party also wants to review every refugee status granted for the five years prior to a Reform government taking office.
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Mr Farage will announce the measures at a press conference alongside home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf on Monday.
It comes as more than 20,000 people have arrived in the UK on small boats so far this year.
But crossings have fallen 41% compared to this point in 2025 and are around a fifth lower than in 2024 and 2023.
More than 211,000 migrants have made the dangerous Channel crossing since 2018, but just 9,700 had been returned as of June this year.
Nigel Farage Pledges Huge Crackdown on Countries Refusing to Take Back Migrants
Nigel Farage has unveiled one of Reform UK’s toughest immigration proposals yet, promising to impose sweeping penalties on foreign governments that refuse to accept the return of their citizens who have no legal right to remain in Britain. The measures include visa bans, airline restrictions, tariffs and possible action against foreign assets held in the UK.
Announced at a press conference in Kent on 12 October 2026, the proposals form part of a wider plan to suspend the asylum system for five years, accelerate deportations and review certain asylum decisions made under previous governments. Farage argues that Britain cannot maintain an effective immigration system if countries of origin refuse to cooperate with the removal of people who have no legal right to stay. <Cite refs={[“turn672866search0″,”turn672866search8”]}/>
The announcement has placed immigration back at the centre of Britain’s political debate. Supporters of tougher enforcement argue that immigration rules lose credibility when removal decisions cannot be carried out. Critics, meanwhile, question whether Farage’s proposals could be implemented in the form promised and warn that sweeping restrictions could create serious legal, diplomatic and humanitarian problems.
At the heart of the dispute is a difficult question: how can Britain ensure that people with no legal right to remain are returned when their home governments refuse to cooperate?
Visa bans, airline restrictions and tariffs
Farage’s proposal goes beyond the threat of restricting visas. He has said a Reform UK government would consider several forms of economic and diplomatic pressure against countries that refuse to accept deportees.
The measures include suspending visas for nationals of non-cooperating countries, restricting airlines from using British airspace and imposing tariffs on imports. Farage has also raised the possibility of threatening assets belonging to foreign nationals in London, particularly in cases where he believes a government is refusing to accept the return of its citizens. <Cite refs={[“turn672866search0″,”turn672866search1”]}/>
The approach is intended to make refusal more costly for foreign governments. Rather than relying exclusively on diplomatic negotiations, Reform wants to use Britain’s control over access to its visa system and its economic relationship with other countries as leverage.
Pakistan has been mentioned in connection with potential visa restrictions and asset-related measures. Reform has also identified Egypt as a possible target for tougher action. The precise measures applied to each country would depend on the circumstances and any decisions taken by a future government. <Cite refs={[“turn672866search2″,”turn672866search8”]}/>
Farage’s argument is that governments should not be able to benefit from normal diplomatic and economic relations with Britain while refusing to cooperate on the return of citizens who have no right to remain.
But the proposal raises practical questions. Trade restrictions can affect British exporters and consumers as well as the country being targeted. Visa restrictions may affect students, workers, families and businesses with no connection to the individuals whose removal is being disputed. Airline bans could also disrupt legitimate travel.
A government pursuing such a strategy would need to decide how to distinguish between governments that deliberately obstruct returns and those facing administrative, documentation or legal difficulties. It would also need to explain what conditions a country must meet to have restrictions lifted.
Those details could determine whether the strategy achieves its stated purpose or creates new problems for Britain.