Nigel Farage suggests Labour should consider allowing Shamima Begum to return to Britain
Nigel Farage has said the Labour Government should consider allowing Shamima Begum to return to the UK.
Begum, who left Britain in 2015 to join the Islamic State group, has been campaigning to return to her birthplace after being stripped of her citizenship in 2019.
Speaking to ITV News, Farage said: “I’ve never wanted to. I’ve instinctively never wanted to. But I’m now thoughtful, I’m thoughtful. I don’t classify her as an ISIS, an all out ISIS killer.”
He added: “So she’s sort of less… She is a lesser part of the equation.”
Farage’s comments come after Donald Trump’s terror chief Seb Gorka said that Isis members in Syria should be allowed back into the UK.
The Reform UK leader said: “It’s very difficult for us to think we should take back people, Shamima Begum and others, and instinctively, instinctively, it’s not something I want to do.
“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, leading to a problem that in the end we may all have to fight.”
He added that Gorka’s comments had opened a debate that neither he nor the British Government wanted to have.
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“But now we’re going to have to.”
Big figures have hit out at Farage over his comments, including Elon Musk who wrote on X: “Allowing Isis fighters back to Europe simply sets the the stage for terrorist mass murder.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also made her position on the issue clear, posting on her X account: “A Conservative government led by me will never take back terrorists like Shamima Begum who have been stripped of their citizenship.
“Actions must have consequences or there is no deterrent.”
“Citizenship means committing to a country and wanting its success. It’s not an international travel document for crime tourism.”
Farage and Musk have faced tension in their relationship after Musk criticised the Reform UK leader for his position on former EDL leader Tommy Robinson.
Writing on X last week, the billionaire said: “The Reform Party needs a new leader. Farage doesn’t have what it takes.” He also later appeared to endorse Rupert Lowe, one of Reform’s five MPs as a replacement.
Farage was taken by surprise at Musk’s comments, responding:
“Well, this is a surprise! Elon is a remarkable individual but on this I am afraid I disagree. My view remains that Tommy Robinson is not right for Reform and I never sell out my principles.”