Major-General Julian Thompson, a Falklands War veteran who commanded Operation Sutton, the attack at San Carlos Water in May 1982, has sparked fury by saying small boats carrying migrants to the UK should be shot.
In a YouTube documentary produced by Steven Edginton, the 92-year-old former commander of 3 Commando Brigade said: "I would shoot them. We could stop them tomorrow, if we really had the guts. I'd shoot them, sorry, but I would. We've allowed it to happen. We're wet [...] We've allowed it to happen."
Veteran's remarks on migrants and Islam
Maj. Gen. Thompson told the Mail on Sunday: "As long as they don't come around here, I don't mind what they do." The former Royal Marine added: "They come over here and rape our girls. One machine-gun blast is all it would take [...] then they would get the message. I just want them to bugger off."
He warned that if the Government did not stop them, there "will be a revolution". He also said "our leaders are just wet" and suggested the country is "not Britain any more", adding: "It's a sort of funny conglomeration of people, and in a wet country that allows itself to be pushed around all over the place." He went on: "I'm glad I won't see it; I'll be dead."
Maj. Gen. Thompson also called Islam "a flawed religion" in that "women are totally out". "They can be treated like chattels, and children the same," he said.
Official responses and crossing statistics
A Home Office spokesman said: "This Government is bearing down on dangerous and illegal crossings. Anyone who seeks to take the law into their own hands is putting lives at risk and will face serious criminal consequences."
Conservative Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said "opening fire on migrant boats would be completely wrong". He added: "I understand people's anger at migrant crossings but we cannot shoot at people. There is another way to end this. If the French won't stop the boats near the shore then the British Government should deport every illegal immigrant within a week of arrival."
Crossings so far in 2026 have fallen 41% compared to 2025 and are around a fifth lower than in 2024 and 2023, according to Press Association analysis of Home Office figures. But 20,935 people have still made the crossing so far this year.
Protest and arrests in Hampshire
Hampshire Constabulary said around 350 people left Haslar Road at around 2am on Monday, October 5, after a group of migrants were brought ashore by coastguard, lifeboat and border security staff. The force had imposed conditions under the Public Order Act as well as powers prohibiting the wearing of face coverings.
A total of 12 people were arrested with suspects including 11 men aged between 22 and 59, and one 57-year-old woman. They were arrested on suspicion of offences including assaulting a police officer, drunk and disorderly, failing to comply with conditions put in place on the protest, criminal damage and racially aggravated public order.
