Hard-right Reform UK vows to use navy to stop small boats if it wins power
The hard-right Reform UK party unveiled plans on Monday for, if it wins power, “the largest military operation” in the Channel “since World War II” to stop migrants crossing on small boats. The proposal – which experts and other political parties promptly rubbished – comes days after tens of thousands of migrants entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco, reigniting…
France has denounced a Reform UK plan to use the Royal Navy to stop small boats carrying migrants from crossing the English Channel, likening it to a "violation of French sovereignty as well as maritime law and international law." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage unveiled the proposal at a press conference, calling it the "largest military operation since World War II" and vowing to "stand up for British interests."
The French interior ministry strongly opposes the plan, arguing its implementation would be unlawful. The proposal comes amid a surge in migrant arrivals, with over 14,000 people recorded in the first half of 2026, despite a 42% year-on-year decrease. Reform UK, currently polling well but experiencing financial scandals, would need to win the 2029 general election to implement the plan.
The party's home affairs spokesman stated that French resistance would be a "crime against humanity," and former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe dismissed the idea as ineffective. Meanwhile, the Conservative government pledged to curb migrant crossings, while the Labour party has focused on strengthening cooperation with France.
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