Britain's highest-ranking bishop has launched a scathing attack on Nigel Farage's mass deportation proposals, claiming they are "beneath us as a nation".
The Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, claimed that Mr Farage's plans to deport all illegal migrants who arrive to Britain on small boats would be at odds with "the British way".
Mr Cottrell claimed "compassion and understanding" is a British principle - and the country “cannot simply close the door”.
The Reform UK leader announced the party's mass deportation plan on Tuesday, which would see around 600,000 illegal migrants removed from Britain if his party is elected to power.
Mr Cottrell argued 'compassion and understanding' is a British principle
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At the press conference, Mr Farage said the plans will require Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and to push through a British Bill of Rights to replace the Human Rights Act.
He also said a Reform Government would look to secure deals with Afghanistan, Eritrea and Iran to return migrants, alongside expand detention capacity for asylum seekers to 24,000.
However, the Archbishop has now told The Mirror: “We cannot simply close the door on people fleeing war, violence and persecution.
"Send them all back’ is not a sensible or compassionate response, and is beneath us as a nation.
Mr Farage said the plans will require Britain to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and to push through a British Bill of Rights
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"We need a system that is fair and functional and works well for everyone - including those living near hotels and other asylum accommodation.
"But this debate also goes to the heart of who we are.
"It is the Christian way to meet those asking for help with compassion and understanding, and it has long been the British way to give shelter where we can to those escaping violence and conflict abroad. It should remain that way.”
Mr Cottrell is currently the highest-ranking clergyman in the Church of England, until the appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury.
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The Reform UK leader said the plans were necessary to ease the British public's 'rising anger' towards the migrant crisis
| PA
The Reform UK leader said the plans were necessary to ease the British public's "rising anger" towards the migrant crisis.
Mr Farage said: "The mood in the country around this issue is a mix between total despair and rising anger.
"And I would say this, that without action, without somehow the contract between the Government and the people being renewed, without some trust coming back, then I fear deeply that that anger will grow.
"In fact, I think there is now, as a result of this, a genuine threat to public order."
Senior figures within the Church of England have previously criticised Government measures to tackle the issue of illegal migration.
In 2022, clergymen sitting in the House of Lords said the Tories' proposed Rwanda scheme "should shame us as a nation".
Following the Archbishop of York's comments, Mr Farage told The Mirror: "Whoever the Christian leaders are at any given point in time, I think over the last decades quite a few of them have been rather out of touch, perhaps with their own flock.
"Given the types of people appointed to be the Archbishop of Canterbury, that's probably the biggest understatement of the day."