Reform UK has said it would deploy Royal Navy vessels to intercept small boats crossing the English Channel and return migrants to France or Belgium under a proposal it calls “Operation Fortress”.

Announcing the plans at a news conference, the party said the operation would involve what it described as the largest military deployment in the Channel since the Second World War. Reform said its home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, would have the navy “intercept” boats and carry out the returns as part of what he called a humanitarian response.

Yusuf said the scheme would be compatible with obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, arguing that Article 2 protects the right to life. He also said international maritime rules allow states to pick people up from vessels in danger, but not to take them to another country without consent.

When asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme how such returns could be carried out if France did not agree, Yusuf acknowledged there could be a “diplomatic argument”. He said he believed the UK and France had a “commitment under international law” to process migrants.

Navy Intercepts and Planned Returns

Reform’s proposal would, according to Yusuf, see Royal Navy ships intercept all migrant boats in the Channel. The plan is framed as a humanitarian mission, with Yusuf saying the approach would involve returning migrants to France or Belgium rather than allowing crossings to continue.

The party also indicated it would use the navy as part of a broader attempt to control Channel arrivals, which it links to the scale of illegal migration across the route.

Warnings Over Practicalities With France

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh said on Today programme that the policy would involve a prolonged dispute with France. She said government efforts should focus on disrupting criminal gangs and increasing enforcement, adding that ministers “absolutely needs to get a grip” on crossings.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to be “relentless” in tackling small boat journeys, while stressing that the UK needs an asylum system that offers safe routes.

Burnham visited Dover over the weekend and said the government was “changing the whole approach” to Channel crossings. He said the number of enforcement officers targeting people-smuggling gangs had doubled on both sides of the Channel.

Home Office figures showed that the number of National Crime Agency (NCA) officers working on smuggling operations had risen to almost 800, compared with 376 at the start of 2025.

Channel Crossing Numbers

More than 2,000 migrants have reached the UK on small boats since Burnham became prime minister a fortnight ago. On Saturday, 326 people crossed the English Channel.

Home Office data said crossings this year are down around 43% compared with the same period in 2025. The figures also show the number of small boats crossing the Channel has been trending down since it peaked in 2022, although it remains a major issue for UK border and asylum policy.

Criticism From Defence and Opposition Figures

Reform’s plan drew criticism from retired armed forces personnel and from the Conservative opposition. Retired Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe told the BBC that the UK’s border force is better placed to manage migrant arrivals than the navy. He said warships are designed for roles such as anti-submarine defence and are “not best used for ferrying people around”, adding that “you’re better off using an actual ferry”.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said tackling illegal migration should begin with leaving the European Convention on Human Rights. Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said this would allow the UK to deport people “within a week of arrival”, either back to their country of origin if possible or to a safe third country such as Rwanda if not. Philp said he believed the approach would create a “deterrent effect” by reducing the incentive to cross the Channel.

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3 August 2026

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Reform doing what Reform do - shouting about boats and coming up with ridiculous ideas that can't be implemented in reality but will get all their disciples frothed up.

Nothing they say or do stands up to any scrutiny. What a disaster they would be for the country if they ever got elected.

13 hours ago, webfact said:

Warnings Over Practicalities With France

Of course.

"Reform" consists of the dumbest people at all.

Proposing something what they know it will not happen, because it's against all existing laws.

I'm afraid stupidity could gain the majority once.

My hope Burnham will tell people the truth what is possible and what is stupid right wing populism only.

Reform UK humiliated after Royal Navy announcement blunder

The boat depicted in the plan is/was HMS Ocean which was sold to Brazil several years ago. Very kind of the Brazilians to help out.

Maybe Nigel will also have the British Royal Navy do a bit more than just shadow Russian warships doing live-fire exercises sur La Manche?

The clown party...for clowns.

(with apologies to actual clowns everywhere)

An Australian government made the hard decision to turn the boats around and it appears to work...

Edited August 4Aug 4 by wombat

3 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

My hope Burnham will tell people the truth what is possible and what is stupid right wing populism only.

All you'll get from Burn-em is 'hope' for more of the exact same crap as all the lying puppets that have come before him..even if he wanted to stop the migrants he can't as he is just the puppet.

It might just work if done properly.

Nothing else seems to have had any effect.

The Frogs are totally incompetent in this matter - either that, or they want to see the UK swamped with illegals for some reason.

13 minutes ago, johng said:

All you'll get from Burn-em is 'hope' for more of the exact same crap as all the lying puppets that have come before him..even if he wanted to stop the migrants he can't as he is just the puppet.

When dumbness meets reality there will be always clashes.

As long our society is built up on laws and the majority decided to follow the laws the authorities and the PM will know what to do.

I for myself don't want to be ruled by puppets. Who got the strings then? Putin?

16 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Reform doing what Reform do - shouting about boats and coming up with ridiculous ideas that can't be implemented in reality but will get all their disciples frothed up.

Nothing they say or do stands up to any scrutiny. What a disaster they would be for the country if they ever got elected.

Well said. Not only are there policies ridiculous and impractical, but everything is viewed through the prism of immiigration. It is only one of a multitude of domestic challenges that the UK faces. Reform never talks about the rest as they have no answers, save protecting the interests of the one percent, while hoodwinking people that they are a party of the people. Its obvious that they are running scared, with Farage in hiding, under investigation and their popularity tanking. At last they are receiving proper scrutiny and being exposed for what they really are.

With 3 elected MP's I can see this coming to fruition around the 12th of never.

Behind the scenes......

Holy ****..........we need to announce something big......bungs galore, Tice's backhander, Bindependence day looming .......I know....something to do with the small boats......genius

23 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Who got the strings then? Putin?

maybe this lot.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/26405380.many-burnhams-cabinet-back-labour-friends-israel-backers/

26 minutes ago, johng said:

maybe this lot.

https://www.thenational.scot/news/26405380.many-burnhams-cabinet-back-labour-friends-israel-backers/

As long government members/cabinet follow and respect Burnham's goals and efforts they can support anything, a kindergarten or any other lobby group

Wouldn't this be illegal under international refugee laws and subject to legal appeal by all those who want the UK to have more immigrants. If not, then it could have been done years ago?

1 hour ago, DeaconJohn said:

It might just work if done properly.

Nothing else seems to have had any effect.

The Frogs are totally incompetent in this matter - either that, or they want to see the UK swamped with illegals for some reason.

Your last line nails it.

"Napoleon's Revenge."

Well done Nigel.

You sure know how to push the lefts buttons.

2 hours ago, DeaconJohn said:

or they want to see the UK swamped with illegals for some reason.

Maybe they just do not want them on French soil!

1 minute ago, rocketboy2 said:

Well done Nigel.

You sure know how to push the lefts buttons.

Sorry, the only button he pushed is the "laugh hysterically at his nonsense" button and the "laugh hysterically at the gammons thinking it's a well thought out plan". Well done Nige!

Just now, josephbloggs said:

Sorry, the only button he pushed is the "laugh hysterically at his nonsense" button and the "laugh hysterically at the gammons thinking it's a well thought out plan". Well done Nige!

Oops.

Must have unblocked you by accident.

Fixed it.

Bye.

3 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Maybe they just do not want them on French soil!

Who really wants them?

They're being used as pawns in a geopolitical gambit to radically change the traditional cultures of certain targeted countries.

14 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Maybe they just do not want them on French soil!

Well said and who can blame them?🤣

5 hours ago, wombat said:

An Australian government made the hard decision to turn the boats around and it appears to work...

You can't compare the two.

Australia turns back boats in a vast ocean, much safer and easier to tow their sturdier boats than the flimsy migrant dinghies of the English Channel back to a transit nation.

The English Channel is the busiest shipping lane in the world. There is hardly any international water between French and UK territorial waters for naval ships to manoeuvre in.

Blocking or intercepting the dinghies by naval ships could easily lead to capsizing, contravening the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This was mentioned by a retired admiral yesterday.

7 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Of course.

"Reform" consists of the dumbest people at all.

Proposing something what they know it will not happen, because it's against all existing laws.

I'm afraid stupidity could gain the majority once.

My hope Burnham will tell people the truth what is possible and what is stupid right wing populism only.

Worked ok for Australia. The boats stopped.

2 hours ago, biggles45 said:

Wouldn't this be illegal under international refugee laws and subject to legal appeal by all those who want the UK to have more immigrants. If not, then it could have been done years ago?

Might be wrong, but my understanding is that refugee status changes when they enter the first safe place. Country shopping is a scam. The British are fools and will finally realise it when it is too late.

Apparently the naval ship used in this Reform UK main poster is from the Brazilian Navy.........

1 hour ago, bannork said:

You can't compare the two.

Australia turns back boats in a vast ocean, much safer and easier to tow their sturdier boats than the flimsy migrant dinghies of the English Channel back to a transit nation.

The English Channel is the busiest shipping lane in the world. There is hardly any international water between French and UK territorial waters for naval ships to manoeuvre in.

Blocking or intercepting the dinghies by naval ships could easily lead to capsizing, contravening the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This was mentioned by a retired admiral yesterday.

Then pick them up and fly them to the Shetlands or Orkneys to a military style camp and process them there. Deport the unsuccessful claimants. Undocumented arrivals remain in the camps until they identify themselves.

There is no requirement under any law that I'm aware of for them to be put up in hotels at taxpayer expense.

Edited August 4Aug 4 by emptypockets

6 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

Apparently the naval ship used in this Reform UK main poster is from the Brazilian Navy.........

Well it's not like he doesn't have form of using completely false and misleading imagery is it.

5 hours ago, rocketboy2 said:

Oops.

Must have unblocked you by accident.

Fixed it.

Bye.

Ah yes, the forum block. The last redoubt of the dull and the gormless.

Crack on.

3 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Ah yes, the forum block. The last redoubt of the dull and the gormless.

Crack on.

I love the fact they always think they have to announce it like anyone cares.

10 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Ah yes, the forum block. The last redoubt of the dull and the gormless.

Crack on.

Pop your Forum hat back on please.

Thank you.

Have a nice day.