A former British Army officer has slammed proposals to pay the Taliban to accept deportees from the UK, calling it “a vile perversion of what it is to be British.”
The comments come after Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage suggested his party might negotiate a return agreement with Afghanistan if elected, as part of a broader plan for “mass deportations” to tackle migration. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice has since doubled down, arguing there could be a “justification” for such deals in the interests of the British people. “Sometimes you deal with people you may not want to go down the pub with,” he said.
But ex-soldier Robert Gallimore, who served in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2011, hit back hard. Speaking through the Freedom from Torture charity ahead of Reform UK’s conference in Birmingham, he warned that such a move would send people “back to their torturers”, comparing it to a Kindertransport in reverse.
Gallimore, who fought alongside Afghan interpreters and soldiers many of whom were later killed by the Taliban, said:
“Having seen the devastation they inflict on ordinary people, sending deportees back would betray everything British soldiers have fought for. This is not an abstract enemy, but a brutal force responsible for unspeakable suffering.”
He stressed that the UK’s long-standing opposition to torture “must not be compromised” and that any deal with the Taliban risks undermining the very values British troops have defended in conflict.
The debate comes amid broader political discussion on migration. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake acknowledged his party might potentially strike a deal with the Taliban for returning Afghan Channel migrants but later noted it would be “very expensive” and carry significant human rights consequences, adding that previous proposals, like deporting people to Rwanda, had been a safer option. Labour, meanwhile, has focused criticism on the practicality of the proposals, while Downing Street has refused to rule out seeking return agreements with autocratic regimes.
In the 12 months to June 2025, Afghans accounted for 15% of small boat arrivals to the UK, making them the most common nationality arriving this way.
The UK does not recognise the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, though limited engagement occurs through the Qatar-based UK Mission to Afghanistan when deemed in the national interest.
Sonya Sceats, chief executive at Freedom from Torture, said:
“It is shocking to hear any British politician proposing to send survivors back into the arms of torturers. This isn’t who we are as a country. The British public can see this policy for what it is: a shameless attempt to scapegoat refugees.”
Gallimore added a stark warning to all political parties:
“Reject out of hand any dirty deals with repressive regimes that could result in people being tortured and betray our fundamental British values.”
