𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A petition calling on the UK to establish offshore detention facilities for illegal migrants has gathered more than 700,000 signatures. The petition, launched by former Reform UK and now independent MP Rupert Lowe in September last year and was responded to by the Government last month.

Currently, any petition that gathers more than 100,000 signatures is considered for debate, but there is no obligation for one to be held. The petition states: “The UK is facing unprecedented levels of illegal migration, particularly through small boat crossings. We believe current use of hotels and temporary accommodation is unsustainable, costly and dangerous.

“We believe that establishing offshore detention centres would act as a strong deterrent, prevent absconding, and allow for the swift processing and removal of those who enter illegally. We consider the detention and mass deportation of all illegal migrants in the UK is a necessity.”

The Government responded on January 21, claiming that it was already doing “whatever it takes” to tackle illegal immigration.

The response added: “We believe the number of small boat crossings are shameful and the British people deserve better.

“To restore order and control to our borders, on 17 November 2025, the Home Secretary announced the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in decades, removing incentives that bring illegal migrants to the UK and scaling up and easing the return of those with no right to be here.”

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They added: “This Government is furious at the number of asylum hotels in this country.

“We will close every one by the end of this Parliament. Progress is already being made: from over 400 asylum hotels open in summer 2023, costing almost £9 million a day, there are now fewer than 200 in use.

“We are working to move asylum seekers to more suitable sites such as disused military bases, to ease pressure on our communities.”

Petition founder Rupert Lowe, who saw a fractious exit from Nigel Farage’s party, recently announced the launch of a new political party, Restore Britain.

Restore Britain was initially set up as a “political movement” by Mr Lowe after he left Reform, and is now expected to act as an umbrella political party, with locally based political parties as its partners.