--- title: "Reform UK hopeful calls for 'concentration camps' for asylum seekers" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/reform-uk-hopeful-calls-for-concentration-camps-for-asylum-seekers" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/reform-uk-hopeful-calls-for-concentration-camps-for-asylum-seekers" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/reform-uk-hopeful-calls-for-concentration-camps-for-asylum-seekers.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/reform-uk-hopeful-calls-for-concentration-camps-for-asylum-seekers" category: "Politics" area: "United Kingdom" published: "2026-10-18T00:25:11.879Z" source_reported: "2026-10-17T20:31:00.000Z" updated: "2026-10-18T00:25:11.879Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 45 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-18T01:30:23.468224+00:00" --- # Reform UK hopeful calls for 'concentration camps' for asylum seekers *Undercover footage also captures aspiring MP stating Muslims cannot be British.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to ITV investigation; two independent outlets published full reports. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reports quote affected parties and state what happens next; facts are clearly separated from comment. - Hype 45 of 100, lower is better. Headlines promise revelations from an undercover investigation, which the articles deliver. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - An aspiring Reform UK MP, Jason Powell, was recorded by an undercover ITV reporter suggesting asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps'. - Powell also stated that it is impossible to be both Muslim and British, describing the two as 'like oil and water'. - Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has stated that there is no room for racism in the party and that investigations are underway into inappropriate behaviour by activists. - Previous ITV reporting exposed Reform candidates using offensive language, including referring to Black children as 'animals'. An undercover investigation by ITV has captured an aspiring Reform UK MP, Jason Powell, suggesting that asylum seekers arriving in Britain should be placed in 'concentration camps'. Powell, who told the reporter he had passed vetting checks to become a Reform parliamentarian, also stated that it is impossible to be both Muslim and British. Powell's recorded remarks included: 'Anyone who comes across on a boat, as an example, in the first week of [the] election, build concentration camps, and everyone who comes across on the Channel, you’re in there. They just need to be rounded up, every single last one of them, and sent to those concentration camps and then be given an ultimatum.' He also said, 'You cannot be a Muslim and British. It’s like oil and water.' ## Reform UK's response Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated that 'there is no room for racism in Reform' and that the party has opened investigations into cases where activists or members had 'clearly behaved inappropriately'. Reform UK said in a statement that while vetting procedures have been improved, 'one cannot vet a future comment'. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated, centre-rated, or right-rated reports printed below mention the specific detail from Metro News that Jason Powell stated he had passed vetting checks to become a Reform parliamentarian. ## Who covered it Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 67% (4) - Centre: 16% (1) - Right: 17% (1) 1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-18T01:30:23.468224+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 7 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-18T02:00:13.235Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Four left-rated reports led on the aspiring MP's comments about concentration camps and Muslims not being British. Metro News, in its full report, quoted Powell extensively on both subjects. The National and The Independent (US) also highlighted the 'concentration camps' remarks in their headlines. The Independent (US) and The Independent also mentioned the 'oil and water' comment regarding Muslims and British identity. Metro News also detailed other controversial remarks made by Reform UK councillors, including one who described Black children as 'animals'. ### Centre - The centre-rated Evening Standard's headline focused on the aspiring Reform UK MP's call for asylum seekers to be placed in 'concentration camps'. Its report also included Powell's statement that Muslims cannot be British and quoted Reform UK's response regarding investigations and the absence of racism in the party. The report also noted previous accusations of 'appalling behaviour' and 'extreme racism' within Reform UK. ### Right - The right-rated Daily Express headline stated that a Reform activist said channel migrants 'should be put in concentration camps'. Its digest also noted the aspiring MP's comment that Muslims could not be British. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 1 - high: 3 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Daily Express](https://express.co.uk/news/politics/2258145/reform-activist-undercover-investigation-itv) — Reform activist says channel migrants 'should be put in concentration camps' - [The National](https://thenational.scot/news/26646752.reform-uk-hopeful-says-muslims-cannot-british-itv-footage) — Undercover footage captures Reform UK hopeful’s ‘concentration camps’ remarks - [Metro News](https://metro.co.uk/2026/10/17/reform-needs-build-concentration-camps-aspiring-mp-admits-undercover-journalist-29717534) — Reform must 'build concentration camps', aspiring MP tells undercover journalist - [Evening Standard](https://standard.co.uk/news/uk/reform-activist-undercover-investigation-asylum-seekers-muslims-b1301306.html) — Reform activist says asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps' - [Nation.Cymru](https://nation.cymru/news/undercover-footage-shows-reform-activist-claiming-muslims-cannot-be-british) — Undercover footage shows Reform activist claiming Muslims cannot be British - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/reform-uk-farage-itv-racism-b3068609.html) — Reform activist says asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps' - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/uk/politics/reform-uk-farage-itv-racism-b3068609.html) — Reform activist says asylum seekers should be put in 'concentration camps' ## Questions **What did the aspiring Reform UK MP say about asylum seekers?** An aspiring Reform UK MP, Jason Powell, was recorded by an undercover ITV reporter suggesting that asylum seekers arriving in Britain should be placed in 'concentration camps'. He stated they should be rounded up and sent to these camps with an ultimatum to return to their country of origin. **What did the aspiring MP say about Muslims and British identity?** Jason Powell, an aspiring Reform UK MP, stated that it is impossible to be both Muslim and British, describing the two as being 'like oil and water'. He indicated he would be happy if a Muslim was prepared to de-convert. **What has Reform UK said in response to the allegations?** Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated that there is 'no room for racism in Reform'. The party has also said it has opened investigations into cases where activists or members have 'clearly behaved inappropriately', adding that vetting procedures have been improved but future comments cannot be predicted. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/reform-uk-hopeful-calls-for-concentration-camps-for-asylum-seekers. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Reform UK hopeful calls for 'concentration camps' for asylum seekers", https://mediabias.news/politics/reform-uk-hopeful-calls-for-concentration-camps-for-asylum-seekers