Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf raised concerns about potential changes to Britain’s constitution in order to implement a strategy reminiscent of Donald Trump’s “deportation force.” Serving as the party’s spokesperson for home affairs, Yusuf delivered a speech at the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, focusing on the theme of “Saving Britain and Saving the West.” During his visit, he also engaged with politicians from the MAGA movement in Congress.
One of Yusuf’s key proposals involves deporting a significant number of legally residing individuals in the UK as part of an initiative to “save Britain.” This plan would be executed through a specialized “deportation force” modeled after ICE, the enforcement units employed by Trump for immigration purposes in the United States.
Yusuf emphasized that Reform’s envisioned ICE teams would undergo thorough training and maintain a high level of professionalism. However, he expressed readiness to resort to extreme measures, including the elimination of the House of Lords, should members of the House obstruct the implementation of the party’s stringent deportation agenda.
During an event, Yusuf mentioned that if the House of Lords obstructed their plans, they would dismiss the House of Lords, although he hoped it would not come to that scenario. When asked whether these measures might incite a “civil war” in Britain, Yusuf dismissed the notion.
He anticipated potential protests and resistance from individuals within the Civil Service but asserted that the party would stay focused, undeterred by activists and their media affiliates. Yusuf further delved into various conspiracy theories akin to Trump’s style, alleging foreign financial influence in the UK to undermine Reform’s right-wing policies. He specifically pointed to a by-election in Makerfield, insinuating foreign interference without providing concrete evidence.
Drawing parallels to Trump’s claims of foreign intervention, Yusuf questioned the origins of funding for anti-party demonstrations, suggesting organized efforts to discredit their political agenda. Trump had previously made similar baseless assertions regarding protests against ICE in Minnesota earlier in the year.