Farage defends plan for ‘lethal force’ against Channel migrants
Defence Minister Luke Pollard brands Reform UK's proposals “disgusting and illegal."
London — Nigel Farage, the leader of the right-wing Reform UK party, defended his party's plans to equip the Royal Marines with "lethal force" against migrants attempting to cross the English Channel, on Tuesday. The party, led by Farage, who aims to abolish Britain's asylum system for five years if elected, reinforced Robert Jenrick's claim from Monday that naval officers would be permitted to use lethal force if necessary under Reform UK's direction.
Reform UK's plans faced immediate criticism from political opponents. Labour Defence Minister Luke Pollard called the proposal "disgusting and illegal" and "abhorrent to British military values" on Times Radio. Pollard emphasized that the Royal Navy, like all armed forces, "are not allowed to accept an illegal order. We do not shoot unarmed civilians. We do not take military action against civilians."
Farage sought to clarify Jenrick's comments, asserting that they were being "utterly misconstrued." He argued that any British military personnel facing hostile fire from migrants should be allowed to respond, claiming that migrants are involved in "very, very serious international criminal organizations." Reform UK's Operation Fortress plan, released in August, states that "lethal force would be available where lawful and necessary in self-defense or defence of others against an imminent threat to life."
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