Nigel Farage has suggested that Labour should consider allowing Shamima Begum to return to Britain.
Speaking at Reform UK’s South East of England conference at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, the party leader suggested Begum could return if she is released by the new Syrian regime..
The unexpected change in stance comes after Donald Trump’s former terror chief Seb Gorka advocated for allowing Isis members in Syria to return to their home countries.
In comments to ITV, Farage admitted his position had evolved from previous instinctive opposition.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaks to media during the Reform UK South East conference, at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey
PA
“I’ve never wanted to. I’ve instinctively never wanted to. But I’m now thoughtful, I’m thoughtful,” Farage stated.
He drew distinctions in his assessment of Begum’s case, saying: “I don’t classify her as an Isis, an all-out Isis killer.”
“She’s sort of less… She is a lesser part of the equation,” he added.
Farage explained his shift was influenced by Gorka’s arguments about the management of Isis members in Syria.
Shamima Begum
PA
“Gorka argues that if we and other European countries don’t take back these people and put them in prison here, they will get out of prison under the new Syrian regime,” Farage said.
He suggested this could lead to “a problem that in the end we may all have to fight”.
The Reform UK leader acknowledged that Gorka’s intervention on Thursday had initiated an important discussion.
“Not one that I wanted to have, and not one the British Government wanted to have. But now we’re going to have to,” he stated.
The debate sparked by Farage’s comments has already drawn opposition from within political circles.
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick responded swiftly on X with a clear rejection, stating simply: “No we shouldn’t.”
Reigniting his feud with Farage, Elon Musk tweeted: “Allowing Isis Ifighters back to Europe simply sets the stage for terrorist mass murder.”
