Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe has called for a “national emergency” to address illegal migration, citing shocking new figures about the number of undocumented individuals living in London. Speaking on GB News, Lowe advocated for strict measures, including deporting those living in the UK unlawfully.
Lowe compared his proposed approach to strategies being implemented in the United States, stating, “We have to declare a national emergency, rather like Trump’s doing, and we have to then be actually prepared to take hard decisions and deport, deport, deport.” He criticized the Labour Government’s handling of immigration, claiming Prime Minister Keir Starmer is “up to his neck in this.”
A confidential report by Thames Water, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, revealed that up to 585,000 illegal migrants—approximately one in 12 Londoners—may be residing in the capital. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the figures as “deeply alarming.”
Lowe suggested that illegal migrants could be housed on a remote UK island under basic conditions to deter further arrivals. He also criticized the current immigration system as weak, arguing that it relies too heavily on applicants’ statements.
Drawing comparisons to Australia, Lowe said, “The Australians have shown us what to do. They stop the boats coming, and then people realize it’s a waste of time, spending whatever it is 500 euros to get here.” He called for the UK to withdraw from international treaties, including those beyond the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), to regain control of its borders.
A Home Office spokesperson responded, highlighting the government’s efforts to combat illegal migration. “This Government is strengthening global partnerships and rooting out the criminal gangs who profit from small boat crossings. We have also removed 16,400 illegal migrants in just six months, the highest figure in half a decade.”
Lowe’s remarks have sparked debate, with some supporting his call for stricter measures and others raising concerns about the humanitarian implications of his proposals.