Reform UK wants to deploy the Royal Navy against Migrants in the English Channel

©Mathias Reding via Unsplash

The British right-wing populist party Reform UK presented a striking immigration plan on Monday.

If the party comes to power, it wants to deploy the Royal Navy to intercept migrant boats in the English Channel and return them to the French or Belgian coast. The proposal, dubbed “Operation Fortress,” was described by party official Zia Yusuf on BBC Radio 4 as “a last resort” against the ongoing crossings. According to Yusuf , the migration figures are “absolutely colossal,” and there is “no indication whatsoever” that the problem will go away anytime soon. Reform argues that the plan is part of a broader approach to tighten security at Britain’s borders, but it has immediately drawn criticism. International maritime rules do allow states to rescue people in distress, but not to simply drop them off on a foreign coast without the other country’s consent.

The timing of the announcement is also politically sensitive. Reform UK, Nigel Farage’s party, is under pressure as its lead in the polls narrows and the party faces investigations into its finances. Furthermore, the Parliamentary Ethics Committee confirmed on Monday that it is investigating Deputy Chair Richard Tice. Labour immediately rejected the proposal, calling it a rehash of old rhetoric intended to divert attention from the party’s recent corruption scandals.

Skepticism is also being voiced outside the party. According to the BBC, former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe stated that deploying warships is “not the best way” to address this problem. The debate over migrants attempting to reach Britain in small boats thus remains one of the most contentious issues in British politics, as both security and migration are being used more and more emphatically in the battle for public opinion.

©Mathias Reding via Unsplash - illustrative image