Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman, has proposed that the Royal Navy be used to force migrant boats back to France, stating it would be one of Nigel Farage's first actions as prime minister. Yusuf also suggested the Royal Marines could be deployed to arrest individuals attempting the Channel crossing.
Speaking at the party's annual conference, Yusuf vowed that a Reform government would undertake "the largest mass deportation operation in modern history," aiming to remove all individuals who had arrived in the country illegally. He asserted that the party would establish "the most secure borders on Earth."
The proposals come as Yusuf faces accusations of positioning himself to replace the under-fire Nigel Farage as Reform leader. Farage is currently facing scrutiny regarding the source of the party's donations.
Tim Montgomery, a former Reform activist, commented on the situation, suggesting that Farage should recognize Yusuf's leadership ambitions. Yusuf himself posted a video online detailing his personal history as the son of Sri Lankan immigrant medics who came to Britain in the 1980s.
Yusuf outlined a scenario where, on his first day in office, Prime Minister Farage would order the First Sea Lord to prevent any unauthorized vessels from reaching British shores. However, this proposal was juxtaposed with an announcement by Farage regarding an agreement between Reform UK and France's far-right Rassemblement National (RN).
Under this agreement, if RN secures power in France in 2027 and Reform UK wins the UK election by 2029, France would accept back migrants intercepted at sea and manage their deportation to their countries of origin or third countries. RN president Jordan Bardella, speaking at the conference, pledged that a French government led by his party would prevent France from being a gateway for illegal migration into the United Kingdom, asserting that migrants should be returned to their countries of origin rather than reaching the UK. Bardella stated that the goal is to end dangerous routes, disrupt smuggler networks, and gain border control.
