Farage Rejects Jenrick Force Claim Over Channel Boats

Nigel Farage has denied that a Reform UK government would authorize lethal force against migrant crossings in the Channel after Reform MP Robert Jenrick said Royal Marines could be deployed to return boats to France and use force if necessary.

Jenrick, who defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK, made the comments during an appearance on TalkTV, where he described a plan to send Royal Marines into the Channel. Farage later said the remarks had been misunderstood.

Jenrick said the proposal involved deploying the Royal Marines and allowing them to respond if force was used against them.

"What we are going to do, and we’re the only political party that has the courage to say this, is deploy the Royal Marines into the Channel. If they need to use lethal force, then they’ll be able to do so," said Robert Jenrick, Reform UK MP.

Farage said on LBC that he would not authorize routine use of force and argued it would only apply if soldiers were attacked. He said Jenrick’s comments were "utterly misconstrued".

"Anybody wearing British military uniform who gets fired at has the right to respond. That’s what he was saying," said Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader.

Farage continued by referring to security concerns and his party’s proposed response to Channel crossings.

"Remember, in these camps, every week there are shootings, there are stabbings," said Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader.

He said his party would seek to return people arriving by boat to France if it won the next election.

"We are dealing here with very, very serious international criminal organisations, and what we’re saying is, we will, if we win the next election, pick these people up and take them back to France. There is a possibility that initially that might be met with some force. If it is, force will be met with force. But I tell you something: within two weeks of boats being taken back to France, the boats will stop coming," said Nigel Farage, Reform UK leader.

Jenrick later said the use of force was not his preferred outcome and said the crossings issue could quickly end if the policy were introduced.

"in just a few days," said Robert Jenrick, Reform UK MP.

Jenrick said the preferred approach would be for migrants to be removed from boats and returned to France without violence.

"obviously not what we want to see happen," said Robert Jenrick, Reform UK MP.

Defence minister Luke Pollard criticized Jenrick’s comments, saying the armed forces could not follow unlawful instructions.

"disgusting and illegal," said Luke Pollard, defence minister.

Pollard said military personnel were not permitted to accept commands that breached the law.

"an illegal order," said Luke Pollard, defence minister.

"We do not shoot unarmed civilians. We do not take military action against civilians," said Luke Pollard, defence minister.

Pollard also accused Reform UK of using the issue to divert attention from internal problems within the party.

"The idea of this is a soundbite designed by Reform to distract from their sleaze and their scandal … it’s abhorrent to military values, it’s abhorrent to British values," said Luke Pollard, defence minister.

He added that he believed the comments were intended to shift attention away from Reform UK’s difficulties.

"I don’t think anyone should give this any truck. We can all see what this is: an attempt to distract from Reform’s internal woes," said Luke Pollard, defence minister.