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Britain’s right-wing Reform UK proposes military-led operation to stop asylum seekers from illegal English Channel crossings.
The party announced on Monday that if elected, it would stop asylum seekers with the largest military operation in the Channel since World War Two, as it faces falling popularity and questions over its funding.
Pointing to a migration crisis in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, Reform leader Nigel Farage announced a tougher immigration policy that he said would see asylum seekers who arrive in small boats intercepted and returned to France.
Integrated Surveillance Command:
Reform UK plans to merge military and intelligence surveillance systems to create what it describes as the most heavily monitored maritime border in the world.
Armed Forces Interception:
Under new rule, the British armed forces would be granted emergency legislative powers to actively intercept vessels attempting to cross illegally and return them directly to France.
Mass Detention and Deportation:
As reported, the party intends to scale up immigration detention capacities, aiming to detain and deport anyone arriving via unauthorized routes without eligibility for asylum.
Legal and International Overhauls:
The party unveils that implementing these proposals would require sweeping legislative changes, including leaving the European Convention on Human Rights and replacing the Human Rights Act with a domestic Bill of Rights.
“Under a Reform government, within a fortnight, there would be no more boats,” Farage told reporters at a press conference.
Critics, including government ministers and human rights organizations, have repeatedly dismissed similar military-interception proposals as unworkable, legally challenging, and potentially in violation of international maritime and human rights laws.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Sunday promised “relentless” action on stopping asylum seekers after new figures showed that more than 2,000 people had arrived in Britain since he became leader.
