Farage Blasts Bishops for Having Heads in the Sand on Immigration

Nigel Farage Slams Church of England Bishops Over Immigration Stance, Accuses Them of Ignoring Their Own Congregations

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has launched a scathing attack on Church of England bishops, accusing them of having a "twisted view" of what their congregations want on immigration policy.

Speaking at a press conference in Dover on February 23, 2026, Farage said senior clergy have "their heads in the sand" and are completely disconnected from the views of ordinary churchgoers across Britain.

I think they've got a rather twisted view of what their flock in this country actually want them to do, and we are completely open to genuine refugees.

Farage made the comments as his home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, unveiled Reform UK's latest immigration proposals, which include mass deportations and the creation of a "Deportation Command" to track down and remove illegal migrants.

The Reform leader went further, suggesting the country would benefit from "better Archbishops" and questioning whether bishops truly understood the security threat posed by Channel crossings.

They must have their heads in the sand, these bishops, if they cannot see that aggressive young males chucking their iPhones and passports into the English Channel at the twelve mile line so we can't find out who they are if they don't understand that that is a threat to our country, then frankly, they're not doing a very good job.

Yusuf also announced plans to protect Britain's Christian heritage, including granting automatic listed status to all churches to prevent them from being converted into mosques.

"So much of what makes Britain such a great country is associated and irrevocably derived from Britain's Christian heritage," Yusuf said during the event.

The Bishop of Oxford, Steven Croft, responded with an open letter criticising Farage's approach, accusing him of "deliberately increasing fear of the stranger in our communities." The Archbishop of York has also dismissed Reform's mass deportation plans as an "isolationist, short term, knee jerk" reaction.

Reform UK's latest proposals include imposing visa freezes on countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Syria if they refuse to accept deportees, and the immediate suspension of visa issuance for nations that do not cooperate.

Reform UK Challenges Church Leaders on Immigration as Bishops Push Back Against Deportation Plans

A petition demanding mass deportation of all individuals residing unlawfully in the United Kingdom has surpassed 390,000 signatures, triggering a parliamentary debate. Fifteen Church of England bishops have joined Jewish, Muslim, and other Christian leaders in urging the Prime Minister to reconsider migration rhetoric.

The Crusader's Opinion

Farage is absolutely right to call out these bishops. When shepherds lose sight of their flock, the wolves move in unchallenged. These bishops sit comfortably in their palaces while ordinary Christians watch their communities change beyond recognition and their churches close down or get converted into mosques. The Church of England's leadership has become more concerned with appearing tolerant than actually protecting the faith and the faithful. If these bishops spent less time writing open letters to politicians and more time preaching the Gospel, maybe their pews wouldn't be so empty. Britain's Christian heritage is not a bargaining chip for political correctness. It is the foundation of Western civilisation, and it deserves leaders willing to defend it.

Take Action

• Contact your local MP and voice your support for protecting Britain's Christian heritage. Find your MP at members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
• Sign the petition calling for stronger immigration enforcement at petition.parliament.uk
• Support persecuted Christians worldwide through www.TheShepherdsShield.org
• Support Open Doors UK, which advocates for persecuted Christians globally: www.opendoorsuk.org
• Attend your local church this Sunday and engage your community in conversations about the future of Christianity in Britain