Nigel Farage’s small boats plan savaged as France hits again over ‘violation’

France’s interior ministry has blasted Nigel Farage’s plan to use the Royal Navy to stop small boats, while the Reform chief was warned his idea will “inevitably” lead to more deaths on the Channel

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Nigel Farage’s desperate small boats plan has been dismissed as impractical and illegal as he attempts to divert attention from sleaze allegations.

The Reform UK leader published a thin plan to use the Royal Navy to stop Channel crossings. But France shot back, claiming the move would be a “violation of French sovereignty” and saying it breaks maritime law.

Downing Street also dismissed the 25-page proposal, saying a similar measure under the Tories had not lowered the number of crossings. And charities warned it would inevitably lead to more deaths.

Mr Farage staged a rare Westminster press conference today to launch the plan as he battles to stop plummeting poll ratings. He was accused of trying to create a diversion by saying navy vessels should intercept small boats crossing the Channel and return those on board to France and Belgium.

France brands Farage’s plans ‘a violation’

Reform claimed it anticipated French authorities would support agreed returns. But in a statement the nation’s interior ministry said: “This would be a violation of French sovereignty as well as a violation of maritime law and international law.”

At the same press conference Mr Farage confirmed reports he had held secret talks about returning as party leader months before the 2024 general election. But he insisted these took place after he accepted a £5million ‘gift’ from Thailand-based crypto tycoon Christopher Harborne.

This money, which was not declared, was being investigated by Parliament’s standards commissioner when Mr Farage stepped down and triggered a by-election in Clacton, Essex. He is battling parody candidate Count Binface after all other major parties refused to engage, branding the contest a circus.

He unveiled Operation Fortress, which Reform says would see 10 navy vessels deployed to stop Channel crossings. But Andy Burnham’s official spokesman said getting the Royal Navy involved was tried under the Tories as crossings rose – and made no difference.

The number of people reaching the UK this year is at its lowest since 2021, but the government is under pressure to tackle the number of crossings. The Downing Street spokesman said: “The Royal Navy had primacy for small boat crossings under the previous government in 2022. I’d remind you there was no reduction in small boat crossings in that period.

“The Royal Navy is already tackling many threats, including monitoring any Russian warships operating near our shores, protecting our waters and our critical national infrastructure. Border patrol officers have significant capabilities and skills that make them the best-suited candidate to lead small boats operations in the Channel.

“That’s why we’re driving down the number of crossings. It’s why they’re down almost 50% compared to last year and why almost 60% of attempted crossings have been stopped since this Government came to power.”

Refugee Council says more lives would be at risk

Under Reform’s plan, bay class landing ships, rigid-hulled inflatable boats and Border Force cutters would be used to intercept dangerous boats. People would be removed, treated, and returned to France or Belgium.

A document outlining the policy described it as a humanitarian response, but last night the Refugee Council warned it would inevitably put people in more danger.

Jon Featonby, chief policy analyst at the charity, said: “The deaths of four people trying to cross the channel last week were a tragic reminder of how dangerous this route is. The last thing anyone should be proposing is anything that would risk more loss of life, as this plan inevitably would.”

Reform’s proposals would create a major flashpoint between Britain, France and Belgium – but it claimed it would not lead to violence in the sea. The Reform document states: “We do not believe for one moment that the French nation or gendarmerie would open fire on Royal Marines conducting a humanitarian mission and transporting civilians.”

It went on to say the chances of a tactical confrontation with France is “incredibly low”. Mr Farage said:”If the Royal Navy is not there to protect this country from invasion, then, frankly, I can’t see what its purpose is.”

Following the press conference he unveiled a van with the words ‘Europe is at breaking point’ on the side. It is a reference to a heavily-criticised poster he posed with during the Brexit campaign.

Reform’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf – who attended the press conference with Mr Farage – said it would be the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two.

Farage’s popularity plunge

The headline-grabbing policy came after he was dealt a hammer blow last week when two major polls suggested Labour had overtaken Reform after trailing for more than a year. And according to More in Common his personal approval ratings have plummeted, falling by 10 points in just a fortnight to minus 34%.

This makes him the most unpopular leader of any of the five main parties, a long way behind Andy Burnham’s +19%. An investigation into the £5million gift is expected to resume if Mr Farage is successfully returned as an MP next week.

If Mr Farage is found to have broken strict rules on declaring gifts in the year before becoming an MP, he could face a suspension and a possible second by-election.

He denies wrongdoing and insisted that when he accepted the money he had no intention of standing for Parliament. But he admitted he had discussed a return as party leader in spring 2024 with Richard Tice.

Mr Farage did not announce his candidacy until June after Rishi Sunak called a snap general election, which Labour won in a landslide. Asked about the discussions, Mr Farage said it “wasn’t a deal, it wasn’t an agreement, it was subject to if I came back”.

He said he had been discussing financial liabilities. The Sunday Times reported he negotiated a deal with Mr Tice, who was then party chief.

Under that deal, once Mr Farage became leader Reform would repay or write off more than £1 million in outstanding loans it had received from Mr Tice’s company. He said: “Overall questions about money could go on for years.

“I had no intention of returning to politics or as leader of Reform, but in the spring of that year I did talk to Richard Tice about what the liabilities would be if I was to come back to that position. And you’d be a bit of a mug, wouldn’t you, to walk into a job and not find our what the potential liabilities were, and they were substantial.”

This chat came quite some time after the gift, he said. On top of questions about the donation, it has emerged that the Met Police is investigating donations to Reform by Fiona Cottrell, mum of convicted fraudster George Cottrell, a close ally of Mr Farage.

Officers are working to determine the original source of the funds. Labour Party chairwoman Bridget Phillipson said: “Farage has desperately tried to distract from his catalogue of scandals. But the embattled Reform leader has run out of road and must come clean with the public. If he had done nothing wrong, he surely would have explained himself by now.

“With grubby pacts, police probes, and support from a convicted fraudster – Reform are up to their neck in sleaze and they clearly think the rules don’t apply to them.”