On 3/8, Reform UK stated that if it wins the next general election and takes power, it will launch "the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War II" to address the influx of migrants crossing the sea in small boats.

Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, said the plan, dubbed "Operation Fortress," would make UK borders "impenetrable" to illegal immigration.

"Nigel Farage will direct the Royal Navy to stop all illegal vessels crossing the English Channel, preventing any from reaching British shores", he said, referring to the leader of the Reform UK party.

Migrants on a boat attempt to cross the English Channel off Gravelines beach, northern France, on 29/7. Photo: AFP.

"Those who intentionally cross the sea will be intercepted by our armed forces and returned to France", he stated, adding that the proposed Reform UK campaign has "the support of former senior armed forces officials".

A Reform UK spokesperson described the plan as a "humanitarian mission," emphasizing its full compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights, as Article 2 of the convention protects the right to life.

However, international maritime conventions allow nations to rescue people from vessels in distress but do not permit their transfer to another country without that nation's consent.

When questioned about the plan's feasibility, Yusuf asserted that it is entirely implementable.

He acknowledged that a "diplomatic dispute" could arise between the UK and France if the French government refused to accept migrants returned to its coast, but he affirmed France's "commitment under international law" to address migrant issues.

Illegal migration remains a sensitive issue in the UK. As of 31/7, 14,281 irregular migrants have arrived in the UK via small boats since early 2026, a decrease of over 42% compared to the same period last year. However, a record 752 arrivals were recorded on 29/7 in a single day.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged on 2/8 to take "decisive action" to further reduce illegal sea crossings. "Clearly, progress has been made, but we must not be complacent", he said.

Reform UK's strong anti-immigration message follows an incident last week where 60,000 Moroccans surged into Ceuta, Spain's North African enclave, refocusing British public attention on the issue.

Led by Farage, Reform UK frequently capitalizes on voter frustration regarding trade, technology, and immigration to gain prominence and expand its influence in British politics. Employing populist messages, the party secured over 1,400 of the 5,000 seats in local elections in May. Reform UK has led polls over the past year with nearly 30% support.

Responding to Reform UK's proposals, former British naval lieutenant colonel Tom Sharpe suggested that border forces are better suited for managing migrants than the navy.

Warships, designed for combat, are "unsuitable for ferrying people back and forth," he explained. "A ferry would actually be better".

The English Channel lies between the UK and France. Graphic: BBC.

Sharpe believes Reform UK's plan "is not a real solution to the problem".

"The navy can do many things, but the idea of returning people to France against France's will, to me, is entirely unreasonable", he added.

By Vu Hoang (Sources: BBC, AFP, Reuters)