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Reform UK has declared its intention to initiate what it describes as the “largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two” to combat the issue of small boat migrant arrivals, should it take control of the government. The party’s announced strategy involves deploying Royal Navy vessels to intercept migrant boats in the Channel and returning those on board to either France or Belgium.
During discussions about the feasibility of returning migrants without the explicit agreement of French authorities, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson, Zia Yusuf, maintained that such returns would be achievable. Yusuf emphasized that the operation, termed “operation fortress,” has garnered support from “former senior members of our armed forces.” He further framed the plan as a humanitarian initiative that respects the European Convention on Human Rights, citing Article 2’s protection of the right to life. Yusuf acknowledged potential diplomatic disputes if French authorities declined to accept returned migrants but insisted that France and Belgium are bound by international legal commitments to process those individuals.
Meanwhile, Andy Burnham, the current prime minister, has committed to relentless efforts against small boat crossings while underscoring the necessity of establishing safe routes for asylum seekers. Since Burnham assumed office, over 2,000 migrants have made the journey across the Channel by small boats, with 326 arrivals reported on a recent Saturday. Official figures from the Home Office indicate that crossings in the current year are approximately 43% lower compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Burnham has also increased enforcement efforts, including doubling the number of officers tackling smuggling gangs along both sides of the Channel, with the National Crime Agency’s workforce in this area growing from 376 at the beginning of 2025 to nearly 800.
Criticism of Reform UK’s approach has come from various quarters. Retired Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe argued that the UK’s border force is better equipped to handle migrant arrivals than naval warships, which are primarily designed for military operations such as anti-submarine warfare. Sharpe recommended that ferries would be more appropriate for transporting migrants. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp called for the UK to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, asserting that such a move would allow for the immediate deportation of all illegal migrants, either back to their countries of origin or to safe third countries like Rwanda. He claimed this policy would act as a powerful deterrent to prevent crossings
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