Reform UK's Farage vows to deploy Royal Navy to stop migrant boats in Channel

Source: AFP

The hard-right Reform U.K. party unveiled plans on Monday (August 3, 2026) for what it described as "the largest military operation" in the English Channel "since World War II" to stop migrants crossing on small boats — if it wins power.

The proposal — which experts and other political parties promptly dismissed — comes days after tens of thousands of migrants entered Spain's North African exclave of Ceuta from neighbouring Morocco, reigniting Europe's debate over irregular migration.

"What happened in Ceuta over the weekend shows you just how serious this situation is," said Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage, who leads the anti-immigration Reform party, at a press conference unveiling the new policy in a 28-page document.

The plan details deploying Britain's Royal Navy to return small boats to France — a proposal that was made and swiftly abandoned by the Conservative government in 2020. Reform would need to win the next general election, not due until 2029, to implement the proposals.

Scandals and Investigations

The announcement comes as Mr. Farage and Reform — which led national polls for around 18 months but has seen that lead disappear in recent weeks — are embroiled in a series of scandals and official probes into their finances.

In the latest development, Parliament's standards commissioner said on Monday (August 3, 2026) that he had opened an investigation last week into an alleged "failure to declare" a financial interest by the party's deputy leader, Richard Tice.

The commissioner was already probing Mr. Farage for a separate alleged breach of parliamentary rules. That investigation was suspended when the Reform leader resigned as an MP to trigger a by-election next week, which he is contesting.

Meanwhile, London police have confirmed they launched a probe in February last year over donations to Reform ahead of the 2024 general election, following a referral from the Electoral Commission watchdog.

'Doesn't Add Up'

Mr. Farage denied the announcement was a distraction stunt.

"We're very confident that our policy of securely picking people up and safely taking them back to France ... falls within other conventions of international law," he said, predicting Reform would stop the boats "within a fortnight".

The party's home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, insisted any French resistance "would be a crime against humanity".

"If the Elysee Palace refuses, make no mistake: His Majesty's Royal Marines will disembark them safely on the very shore they left that morning," he added.

He said the plans would be "the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War II".

But Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy commander, told AFP that deploying the navy was "not really where the solution lies".

"There's a lot the navy can do but the idea of ... ferrying people back to France, against the French's will, to me just doesn't add up."

Government Response

Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer two weeks ago, vowed on Sunday (August 2, 2026) to be "relentless" in curbing the crossings.

Since taking power in 2024, the centre-left Labour government has sought to "smash the gangs" that facilitate the journeys, including through increased cooperation with France.

In April, London signed a new three-year deal with Paris over the crossings, agreeing to pay up to €766 million ($897 million) to boost joint efforts.