Farage Declares Channel Migrant Crisis a ‘Crime’ as He Watches Handover at Sea

 

As dawn broke over the English Channel, Nigel Farage stood aboard a fishing boat, freshly hooked mackerel in hand, when his attention turned from fishing to what he described as a “crime” unfolding on the waters between France and Britain. At 8am, a message crackled over the maritime radio from a French warship, not about a distress call, but a request for something unexpected: the return of 40 lifejackets it had distributed to migrants earlier that morning.

'This is two governments operating together. There's no will to stop this of any kind at all.'@markwhiteTV joins Reform UK Leader Nigel Farage in the English Channel to witness Border Force taking on board migrants attempting to reach the UK. pic.twitter.com/HmsfimxZ90

— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 10, 2025

 

Farage, accompanied by The Times and the captain of the charter vessel Louise Jane II, Andy King, had been observing what he assumed would be a routine handover of migrants from French to British authorities. But the request for lifejackets signalled an unusual twist. The French warship had escorted a dinghy launched from Wissant beach, carrying 78 migrants, into British waters, where the UK Border Force ship Hurricane waited to take over. Before the transfer, the French deployed a rigid inflatable boat to collect the lifejackets — a first, according to King, who had never before witnessed the French reclaim equipment ahead of a handover.

 

 

The handover itself was orderly. From no more than 300 metres away, Farage and others watched as migrants—mostly young African men, along with one woman and three children—climbed aboard Hurricane one by one. Border Force officers called instructions to prevent the dinghy from capsizing, then provided blankets and hot drinks inside the catamaran’s cabin. Once emptied, the dinghy was collected by MCS Taku, the Border Force vessel responsible for recovering the remnants of such crossings.

 

 

 

“This is a crime and yet everyone seems happy: Border Force are happy, the French are happy,” said Farage through binoculars, visibly angry. The timing, just hours before a press conference between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron unveiling a new "one in, one out" migrant return deal, could not have been more politically symbolic.

 

 

Farage used the moment to announce a new Reform UK policy calling for all migrants arriving via small boats to be held in decommissioned migrant camps until deportation. “Do what Trump does. Just fly them back,” he told The Times, proposing mass deportations—even to conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Eritrea—and urging the UK to follow the U.S. example in El Salvador. He insisted the Royal Navy should tow boats back to France if deportations fail. “Ultimately, the last solution would be for the Royal Marines to take them back to France. If it comes to that, it comes to that. But I don’t [think] it would need to.”

 

Farage believes he could end Channel crossings within weeks if elected Prime Minister. “It wouldn’t take us very long,” he said, outlining plans to declare a national emergency on day one and override the European Convention on Human Rights, eventually leading to a full withdrawal from the treaty.

 

That day, more than 200 migrants successfully crossed the Channel, with many more intercepted by French police. The crossings required full deployment of British assets: Hurricane, Taku, two fast ribs to establish a safety perimeter, and even a coastguard helicopter on standby. French authorities, meanwhile, warned Captain King to “alter your course now” as his boat neared the migrant dinghy.

 

For King, the migrant traffic is personal. He now earns his living ferrying swimmers across the Channel, a booming niche industry due to the collapse of fishing. “I’m booked up with swimmers until 2028,” he said, noting that he charges £3,800 per swimmer. But threats from the French ministry to suspend his licence during migrant surges could leave him out of work.

 

He also spoke of routine abuse from migrants as they pass: “They shout things like, ‘Fat English pigs! Dirty bastards!’ They throw the ‘w****r’ sign and flick the middle finger. I’ve also heard people shout, ‘Allahu Akbar’.”

 

By 11am, the boat turned back to Dover. As Farage cleaned mackerel on deck, he reflected on the day’s events with satisfaction. “I could not believe my luck,” he said, “at the timing of this trip.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-07-12

 

 

"Ferrying swimmers across the Channel". Why do they need ferrying?

"(Farage) insisted the Royal Navy should tow boats back to France if deportations fail. “Ultimately, the last solution would be for the Royal Marines to take them back to France. If it comes to that, it comes to that. But I don’t [think] it would need to.”

 

No need to look any further than this for a reason why Farage should never become PM. Effectively invade France. UK foreign policy circa 1530.

On 7/12/2025 at 4:04 AM, Social Media said:

 

Farage Declares Channel Migrant Crisis a ‘Crime’ as He Watches Handover at Sea

 

As dawn broke over the English Channel, Nigel Farage stood aboard a fishing boat, freshly hooked mackerel in hand, when his attention turned from fishing to what he described as a “crime” unfolding on the waters between France and Britain. At 8am, a message crackled over the maritime radio from a French warship, not about a distress call, but a request for something unexpected: the return of 40 lifejackets it had distributed to migrants earlier that morning.

 

Farage, accompanied by The Times and the captain of the charter vessel Louise Jane II, Andy King, had been observing what he assumed would be a routine handover of migrants from French to British authorities. But the request for lifejackets signalled an unusual twist. The French warship had escorted a dinghy launched from Wissant beach, carrying 78 migrants, into British waters, where the UK Border Force ship Hurricane waited to take over. Before the transfer, the French deployed a rigid inflatable boat to collect the lifejackets — a first, according to King, who had never before witnessed the French reclaim equipment ahead of a handover.

 

https://d6q7c2j9a6vdy5.archive.ph/it9Y8/ff3bbc250665ab5a949712b971f051869a92d381.webp

 

The handover itself was orderly. From no more than 300 metres away, Farage and others watched as migrants—mostly young African men, along with one woman and three children—climbed aboard Hurricane one by one. Border Force officers called instructions to prevent the dinghy from capsizing, then provided blankets and hot drinks inside the catamaran’s cabin. Once emptied, the dinghy was collected by MCS Taku, the Border Force vessel responsible for recovering the remnants of such crossings.

 

https://d6q7c2j9a6vdy5.archive.ph/it9Y8/7db76fe88c5e764f06efa47224e49515e1f53ca8.webp

 

 

“This is a crime and yet everyone seems happy: Border Force are happy, the French are happy,” said Farage through binoculars, visibly angry. The timing, just hours before a press conference between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron unveiling a new "one in, one out" migrant return deal, could not have been more politically symbolic.

 

 

Farage used the moment to announce a new Reform UK policy calling for all migrants arriving via small boats to be held in decommissioned migrant camps until deportation. “Do what Trump does. Just fly them back,” he told The Times, proposing mass deportations—even to conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Eritrea—and urging the UK to follow the U.S. example in El Salvador. He insisted the Royal Navy should tow boats back to France if deportations fail. “Ultimately, the last solution would be for the Royal Marines to take them back to France. If it comes to that, it comes to that. But I don’t [think] it would need to.”

 

Farage believes he could end Channel crossings within weeks if elected Prime Minister. “It wouldn’t take us very long,” he said, outlining plans to declare a national emergency on day one and override the European Convention on Human Rights, eventually leading to a full withdrawal from the treaty.

 

That day, more than 200 migrants successfully crossed the Channel, with many more intercepted by French police. The crossings required full deployment of British assets: Hurricane, Taku, two fast ribs to establish a safety perimeter, and even a coastguard helicopter on standby. French authorities, meanwhile, warned Captain King to “alter your course now” as his boat neared the migrant dinghy.

 

For King, the migrant traffic is personal. He now earns his living ferrying swimmers across the Channel, a booming niche industry due to the collapse of fishing. “I’m booked up with swimmers until 2028,” he said, noting that he charges £3,800 per swimmer. But threats from the French ministry to suspend his licence during migrant surges could leave him out of work.

 

He also spoke of routine abuse from migrants as they pass: “They shout things like, ‘Fat English pigs! Dirty bastards!’ They throw the ‘w****r’ sign and flick the middle finger. I’ve also heard people shout, ‘Allahu Akbar’.”

 

By 11am, the boat turned back to Dover. As Farage cleaned mackerel on deck, he reflected on the day’s events with satisfaction. “I could not believe my luck,” he said, “at the timing of this trip.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-07-12

 

 

"Farage believes he could end Channel crossings within weeks if elected Prime Minister."  That's great, but what about the ones that are already here? Will there be anything done to start deportations? 

On 7/12/2025 at 2:43 PM, roquefort said:

"Ferrying swimmers across the Channel". Why do they need ferrying?

 

Not well explained in the story. Andy King ferries Channel swimmers to or from Dover, assumably after a partial or one-way swim. 

 

 

Try this link to the Channel Swimming Association:

 

 

https://www.channelswimmingassociation.com/pilots/louise-jane-ii