French insist plan to use Navy to tow back small boats is illegal

By CHRISTIAN CALGIE, SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT-AT-LARGE Published: 23:32, 3 August 2026 | Updated: 23:36, 3 August 2026 Reform's proposal to use the Royal Navy to end migrant boat crossings has been branded illegal by the French government. The diplomatic row was sparked hours after party leader Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf, its home affairs spokesman, unveiled 'Operation Fortress' at a press conference on Monday.  The policy would see Mr Farage instruct the Navy to launch the largest military operation in the English Channel since the Second World War, with all migrant boats intercepted and returned to France. Mr Yusuf said the policy would be pushed through with or without French support, but admitted the party 'would far rather' see President Emmanuel Macron not stand in their way. He said: 'We would far rather disembark people in port, walk people down a gangway and hand them to the French authorities. That is what is more dignified, and it is what we will negotiate. 'But if the Elysee Palace refuses, make no mistake: His Majesty's Royal Marines will disembark them safely on the very shore they left that morning. 'Those are the only two options. There is no third option where a British government under Reform just shrugs its shoulders and brings them back to Dover.' Hours later, however, the French interior ministry said the proposal was unlawful on several grounds.  Nigel Farage at the launch of 'Operation Fortress' at a Reform UK press conference in central London Reform UK's Home Affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf alongside Farage at the press conference Mr Yusuf said he would rather France's President Emmanuel Macron did not stand in the plan's way A spokesman said: 'This would be a violation of French sovereignty, as well as a violation of the law of the sea and international law. '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's policy document argues that the plan would be legal because multiple treaties, including the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, require all efforts be taken to protect life at sea. It added: 'These would be lawful interdictions and fully protect and preserve life at sea. Indeed, securing our borders would dramatically reduce deaths during Channel crossings.' Former Navy commander Tom Sharpe told Radio 4 the proposal would not be a good use of resources. 'A billion-pound warship that's configured for anti-air warfare or anti-submarine warfare, which are both threats to the UK, is not best used ferrying people around,' he said. 'You're better off using an actual ferry.' The Conservatives called Reform's idea a 'gimmick'.  Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: '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.' And Tory MP Ben Obese-Jecty claimed the image on the cover of Reform's Operation Fortress document showed HMS Ocean – which was sold to Brazil in 2018.  He wrote on social media: 'Reform, always across the detail on defence matters, have used a 2012 picture of HMS Ocean. It remains unclear as to how the Brazilian Navy will be involved.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.