France has declared that Nigel Farage's plan to deploy Royal Marines to return Channel migrants to French beaches would be a "violation" of sovereignty. The Reform UK leader said the move would "save lives" and "help the French" end the crisis.
French Response
France's Interior Ministry claimed the plan "would be a violation of French sovereignty as well as a violation of maritime law and international law." A spokesperson added: "Separately, as part of the measures put in place with the UK and the arrangements deployed at the local level, the interior ministry states that the number of crossings is down in 2026."
Reform has insisted the plan is legal and complies with the ECHR. Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs spokesman, said: "Let me be crystal clear. A Reform Government will show unflinching resolve that those who set out from France to break into Britain will go back to France."
Farage's Justification
Mr Farage said: "For the French, there are very big upsides. Life from Dunkirk, through Calais, through Wimereux, all of those rather beautiful little villages, is now hell." He added: "Dealing with this problem would be a great, great relief to the people of France."
He argued the move would save lives at sea, noting: "These big mega dinghies, we saw one last week with 165 people on it, 90 to 100 is now common." He said: "Picking these people up out of these boats and returning them to the nearest safe destination and to a safe country, we believe it is within international law of the sea."
Military Concerns
Former Navy chiefs warned the policy could divert British warships from monitoring Russian vessels. Former commander Tom Sharpe said the Navy will be thinking "******* hell, not again." He told the Daily Express: "What is the Royal Navy doing this with? What are we taking off current tasking to do it and what does that add that the Border Force and RNLI doesn't already have in terms of the ability to move these people around?"
Reform said the plan would not involve "pushbacks" by towing or barging dinghies away. Instead, the navy would intercept unauthorised boats, detain occupants, and return them to France or Belgium under escort. The Royal Marines and Royal Navy sailors could use lethal force "in self-defence or defence of others against an imminent threat to life."
