A proposal by Britain’s Reform UK party to deploy the navy to intercept and return asylum seekers crossing the English Channel has sparked a diplomatic dispute with France.
Reform leader, Nigel Farage, described the plan, known as “Operation Fortress”, as a humanitarian “rescue and return” mission, insisting it would comply with international law.
Farage said the move would stop what he called a potential repeat of the recent migrant surge in Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta, promising that those arriving by boat would be returned to their point of departure if his party gains power.
The proposal has been rejected by migration experts and legal groups, who argue that sending military vessels into another country’s territorial waters to return migrants could breach international agreements and damage relations with France.
The debate comes as more migrants continue attempting dangerous Channel crossings, with more than 150 people rescued on Tuesday after a vessel caught fire.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister ,Andy Burnham, said the government would continue efforts to reduce illegal crossings, while Labour accused Reform of using migration issues to divert attention from internal controversies.
