Reform UK has pledged to crack down on illegal traveller camps that blight the lives of residents if Nigel Farage wins the next general election. The party said it would give the police the power to order people in unauthorised encampments to leave or face fines, vehicle seizure or arrest.

Reform would take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights, repeal the Human Rights Act, and make changes to the Equality Act and planning laws in a bid to end the "two-tier" system. It would also bring in tougher penalties for fly-tipping, including raising the maximum fine to £5,000 and seizing vehicles for a second offence.

Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: “For too long law-abiding citizens have suffered under two-tier policing as travellers build unauthorised encampments, and fly-tipping has been all but legalised.

"Reform will end this, with victims no longer needing to rely on councils to have unauthorised camps removed. Police will attend, make arrests and seize vehicles.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “For years, towns and villages across Britain have been forced to accept criminality in their communities, but each measure we have used to deal with illegal traveller sites has fallen foul of the ECHR.

“That is why I have serious plans to end the power of foreign courts to frustrate the will of Parliament, and to back our police with the powers and resources they need.

“The Conservatives are the only party who are doing the proper work needed to leave the ECHR, take back our streets, and stand up for the rule of law. We will get Britain working again.”