Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has insisted that his party's plan to intercept and return migrant boats crossing the English Channel would comply with international law. The party has proposed using the Royal Navy to transport migrants to France or Belgium under a plan called "operation fortress," which it describes as a humanitarian response.
Operation Fortress Details
At a press conference, Farage said: "Operation fortress will be a combined military operation. It will save lives, it will help the French in fulfilling their job of stopping the boats and it will save a huge amount of money." He added: "We are very confident that our policy of securely picking people up and safely taking them back to France – we are entirely confident that that falls within other conventions of international law."
Reform said it would set up a joint military command with units from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RAF, and British Army, as well as a surveillance operation. The navy's River-class offshore patrol vessels, currently monitoring Russian naval activity, would be used for interception. The plan would not involve "pushbacks" but would see the navy detain occupants of unauthorised boats, provide water, food, and medical assessment, and return them to France or Belgium under escort.
French and UK Reactions
France has said the plan "would be a violation of French sovereignty as well as a violation of maritime law and international law." A French interior ministry spokesperson noted that crossings are down in 2026 under current measures. A Reform UK spokesman responded: "We will always stand up for British interests and protect our people, whether Emmanuel Macron likes it or not. Humanitarian missions do not violate maritime or international law."
Downing Street said that when the Royal Navy had primacy for small boat crossings in 2022, there was no reduction during that period. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The Royal Navy had primacy for small boat crossings under the previous government in 2022. I'd remind you there was no reduction in small boat crossings in that period. Border patrol officers have significant capabilities and skills that make them the best-suited candidate to lead small boats operations in the Channel."
Border Crossings Context
Reform cited the situation in Ceuta, where some 60,000 migrants breached the border earlier this week, as showing the urgency of their plan. Last Wednesday was the busiest day for small boat crossings this year, with 752 migrants arriving. The provisional total for 2026 so far is 14,526, 43% lower than the same period last year (25,436) and down 14% on 2024 (16,903).
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "Reform UK have no detailed plan nor funding to back up their latest gimmick. They can't explain how they will properly fund the military and they can't explain how they would disembark illegal immigrants in France without French co-operation." A YouGov poll revealed that just 13% of Britons think France is genuinely trying to stop migrant crossings, while 62% believe they are not making a genuine effort.
