Winston Marshall, the former Mumford & Sons musician who left the band in 2021 and is now establishing himself as a rightwing online influencer, has proposed that Britain construct a mine-laden 'floating wall' across the English Channel to prevent small boat crossings.
Controversial Proposal
Speaking on Fox News, Marshall acknowledged the idea 'might sound ridiculous' but argued it should be explored because previous attempts to stop the crossings had failed. He suggested the wall could have mined sections and open sections for proper operations.
Marshall, who launched his own YouTube show earlier this year vowing to cover topics 'the corporate media won't touch', raised the idea during a discussion about a new £660m deal between the UK and France to tackle crossings, which he said had made him 'pretty angry'.
Context and Reactions
The Dover Strait, the narrowest part of the Channel, is the busiest shipping lane in the world. The previous Conservative government had trialled a 'blockade' tactic using rigid hull inflatable boats to physically prevent crossings.
Marshall's father, Paul, is an increasingly influential hedge fund founder and media mogul who owns the Spectator magazine and co-owns GB News. This appearance on Fox News is the latest sign of a growing transatlantic network of rightwing media and commentators.
Marshall's Claims
During the interview, Marshall described migrants as 'military aged men' and claimed they are 'not refugees' but 'economic migrants'. He also asserted that the Royal Navy only had four seaworthy assets besides its nuclear submarines and suggested the UK was 'a tinderbox' that could 'explode' with the smallest trigger.
The comments have drawn criticism from various quarters, with many pointing out the impracticality and danger of such a proposal in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
