Ann Widdecombe Proposes ‘Secure Reception Centres’ for Migrants at Reform UK Conference in Birmingham

Ann Widdecombe has stated that Reform UK plans to house migrants in 'secure reception centers.'

The Reform UK conference is currently underway in Birmingham.

Friday, September 20, 2024, 6:

Ann Widdecombe, previously a Conservative minister and now a spokesperson for Reform UK, stated that the party plans to accommodate undocumented immigrants in "secure reception centers" rather than hotels, emphasizing a swift deportation process.

The Reform conference began on Friday, featuring a lineup of speakers such as Ms. Widdecombe and television star Ant Middleton.

Ms. Widdecombe, serving as the party's spokesperson on immigration, informed those present in Birmingham that under a Reform-led government, individuals entering the UK illegally via small boats would be accommodated in "secure reception centers."

"Ms. Widdecombe stated that the individuals arriving by boat will not be accommodated in hotels, which would otherwise cost British taxpayers billions each day."

"We will accommodate them in safe intake facilities."

"Then the announcement is made that if you enter this country illegally from a country that is completely safe, you will be denied entry, processed swiftly, and deported."

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Ms. Widdecombe, known for her skepticism towards the European Union, served as the prisons minister during John Major's tenure as the Conservative prime minister. She retired from her role as a Member of Parliament in 2010 and subsequently participated in various television shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother.

In 2019, she made a comeback to the political arena, serving as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Brexit Party. After a year, the

At the Reform conference, Ant Middleton, famed for his role in the Channel 4 series SAS: Who Dares Wins, voiced concerns that the UK could face "civil unrest" if measures are not implemented to bolster British culture and identity.

He stated, "our camp is not secure," and further noted that British identity encompasses British culture, which in turn is rooted in British history.

"Why is it being eliminated? Why is it being completely disregarded? Why can't we be the overarching culture of this nation?" Mr. Middleton questioned.

Mr. Middleton emphasized the significance of Christianity in the historical narrative of the UK, stating that losing our identity equates to losing "our purpose, our focus, our direction."

"When we lack a sense of identity, it leads to confusion," he continued.

He mentioned that confusion often leads to frustration, which can escalate into anger and violence.

He went on to say, "We're approaching a critical and decisive moment that could easily spiral into civil unrest, something we desperately want to prevent, but it seems inevitable. We are on the brink, with violence already erupting in the streets, as many have witnessed."

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Ms. Widdecombe addressed the issue of prison overcrowding, mentioning that during her tenure as prisons minister in the 1990s, she proposed repurposing an abandoned holiday camp.

She mentioned that all it required was a secured boundary and, voilà, it becomes a minimal security correctional facility.

"Obviously, you remove the movie theater and the pool first before proceeding," she noted.

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