Michaela Coel Claims UK Has Lost Its Allure for West Africans Amid Rising Immigration Tensions
Acclaimed British-Ghanaian actress Michaela Coel has declared that the United Kingdom is "no longer attractive" to West Africans, as anti-immigration marches and political rhetoric create an unsettling atmosphere. The two-time BAFTA award-winner, 38, who splits her time between east London and Ghana, revealed in a new interview that she feels "more at peace" in her native country compared to the UK.
Protests and Political Climate Deterring Migration
In a candid discussion with The Sunday Times, Coel described watching Tommy Robinson's "Unite The Kingdom" rally from her London home in September as "quite odd." The protest, which saw crowds march from Stamford Street to Whitehall, focused on free speech and Britain's small boat crisis, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk making a guest video appearance to urge marchers to "fight back or die" against what he called the "rapidly increasing erosion of Britain."
Coel expressed that such events have left her and other Africans feeling uneasy, stating, "It just seems a bit odd because I don't think many people are racing to immigrate to the UK like they used to. I think more and more, if people can find a way out - I'm talking particularly for West Africans - they will go. I think the UK has lost the attraction it once had." A second march through London is scheduled for next month, with Sharon Osbourne controversially announcing her attendance.
Reform UK's Hardline Deportation Pledges
Amid this backdrop, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has vowed to "immediately detain" and deport around 400,000 asylum seekers if his party wins the next election. This would target illegal migrants who arrived in the five years prior, including those by small boat, clandestine means, or using fake documents. Combined with 600,000 deportations previously indicated, the total could reach one million.
The party's policy includes:
- Reviewing all asylum grants from the past five years for further deportations.
- Detaining and deporting those who claimed asylum after overstaying a visa.
- Stripping visas from asylum seekers whose home countries are now deemed safe.
Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf accused Labour and the Conservatives of allowing Britain to be "invaded" by asylum seekers, promising to restore justice. However, detaining such large numbers poses a logistical challenge, as immigration removal centres have less than 3,000 beds, though a Reform spokesman predicted many would leave voluntarily.
Labour's Struggles with Small Boat Crossings
Since Labour came to power, the small boat crisis has intensified, with approximately 70,701 migrants crossing the Channel. On a single Saturday, an estimated 602 migrants arrived, pushing this year's total past 6,000. Labour's "one in, one out" scheme, launched last year to return small boat migrants to France, has seen 377 removed but 380 brought into the UK under reciprocal terms, and is set to end in June.
In a further sign of policy disarray, the head of the UK's border security command stepped down at the end of last month after failing to curb crossings. Sir Keir Starmer appointed Martin Hewitt, a former senior police officer, to this role, but during his 18-month tenure, crossings remained at sky-high levels, with last year recording the second-highest annual total on record.
Coel, currently filming the BBC and HBO series First Day on Earth, emphasized that the current climate has shifted perceptions, making Ghana a more appealing haven for many West Africans seeking stability and peace.
