Reform UK's announcement of Operation Fortress, a plan to deploy the Royal Navy to return small boat migrants to France, is a distraction from ongoing standards investigations, according to a scathing analysis.
The move came hours after deputy leader Richard Tice became the second senior party figure in weeks to face scrutiny over alleged undeclared interests. The announcement shifted media attention away from these questions.
Old Stunt, New Name
The proposal, first floated in January 2025, collapsed due to a lack of workable details, which remain absent. Former Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe criticized the plan, noting the Navy lacks suitable vessels and should not divert billion-pound warships from defending against threats like Russia.
The analysis argues that Farage, who championed Brexit with promises of border control, has contributed to the current situation. The loss of Dublin Convention protections removed a route to return asylum seekers to European countries they had previously entered.
Soaring Crossings
Channel crossings in small boats rose from 299 in 2018 to over 45,000 by 2022. Farage is accused of helping dismantle the previous system and then blaming others for the consequences.
The piece criticizes Reform for treating working-class supporters as "electoral puppets," citing the party's leadership under investigation and questions over donations from non-UK residents.
Voters are urged to see the record: Farage promised control but delivered chaos, and Reform now seeks their votes, trust, and taxes to pay for the damage.
