Nigel Farage ‘thoughtful’ about whether UK should bring Shamima Begum back
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Nigel Farage has said that he is “thoughtful” when asked if the UK should consider bringing back Shamima Begum. The Reform UK leader said that “instinctively” it is not something he would want to do, but said that he did not view her as an “all-out Isis killer”.
![[Shamima Begum will not be allowed back to the UK, David Lammy said (PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/10/22/ac7063c12940f02842272a4396927257Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2NjMyMTU2-2.75714257.jpg)
His comments drew a sharp response from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who said that under her leadership, the UK would “never” take back Ms Begum, who is currently in a Syrian refugee camp. The Clacton MP’s comments come after Donald Trump’s incoming counter-terrorism chief called for the repatriation of British members of the so-called Islamic State being held in Syrian prison camps.
![[Shamima Begum was 15 when she travelled to Syria via Turkey with two other girls (Metropolitan Police/PA)]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/10/22/50a863c2364ccb9faa254a71a65fa200Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzM2NjMxOTEx-2.22292949.jpg)
Earlier this week, Sebastian Gorka said that any nation that wishes to be seen as a “serious ally” of the US should commit to the international fight against the extremist group by taking back citizens currently in the north east of Syria. Speaking to ITV News at Reform’s South East England conference, Mr Farage said that “it’s very difficult for us to think we should take back people, Shamima Begum and others” and “instinctively, it’s not something I want to do”.
When asked whether he thought the UK should consider such a move, he 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.”. Mr Farage said that he believes her to be “a lesser part of the equation”.
