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

Published Aug 3, 03:59 PM UTC

The hard-right Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage, announced plans on August 3, 2026, to deploy the Royal Navy in what it called 'the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War II' to stop migrants crossing in small boats. The proposal includes returning boats to France, a tactic previously abandoned by the Conservative government. Experts and political rivals dismissed the plan as unworkable, noting it would require French cooperation. The announcement comes as Reform UK faces multiple scandals and official probes into its finances, including investigations into Farage and deputy leader Richard Tice. The party, which led national polls for 18 months, has seen its lead evaporate recently. The plan is a response to a recent surge of migrants entering Spain's Ceuta enclave from Morocco.