Zia Yusuf Limits Reform UK Lethal Force Plan

Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf has narrowed his party's proposal for using lethal force against migrant boats in the English Channel, saying it would apply only in limited situations involving threats to innocent life during operations.

The comments followed backlash over Reform UK's earlier statements about deploying Royal Marines to stop crossings. Economy spokesperson Robert Jenrick also repeated the claim, saying the crisis could be solved "within a matter of days".

Yusuf previously outlined the policy in a statement about a possible Reform government, saying: "A Reform government will immediately deploy His Majesty's Royal Marines with the following orders: DO NOT LET A SINGLE INVADER REACH OUR SHORES." Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson, said the plan involved armed forces deployment.

The statement continued with Yusuf saying: "If people smugglers resist, our boys will be authorised to use lethal force. We will take our country back."

Speaking to broadcasters, Yusuf later described the circumstances in which force could be used and said intelligence assessments would guide responses involving vessels in the Channel.

"In extremely limited circumstances where it is necessary to protect innocent life" was when lethal force would be used, Yusuf said.

During a BBC Breakfast interview, presenter Jon Kay challenged Yusuf over the possibility that people on boats could also be innocent and had not entered the asylum system. Yusuf responded: "That's not what we're talking about."

Yusuf said the operation would be focused on humanitarian concerns while referring to security information held by intelligence agencies about some people crossing the Channel.

"This is a humanitarian mission, you're absolutely right, many of those people will not have been processed. However, our intelligence agencies do sometimes have information about the people on those boats. We know convicted terrorists have come across in those boats, we know a man came across in the English Channel and attempted a mass casualty terrorist attack on our soil," said Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson.

Yusuf continued by describing scenarios involving armed individuals on boats and the need for a response based on threats identified by authorities.

"In the event there are people on those boats with weapons, with firearms, who think nothing of shedding innocent life, throwing people overboard, we need to be ready to respond. That is diligent. That is ensuring that nobody dies in the Channel," said Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson.

Yusuf also addressed migrant deaths during Channel crossings and said he did not want migrants or armed forces personnel placed at risk.

"Almost 200 migrants have died making that journey. I don't want to put them at risk, and I don't want to put our armed forces at risk either as they conduct this humanitarian mission," said Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson.

In comments to Sky News, Yusuf said there were security concerns linked to some crossings and described how military responses would be determined.

"are some evil people coming across in these boats" was Yusuf's description of some individuals involved in crossings, according to his Sky News remarks.

Yusuf said Royal Marines would operate according to intelligence assessments for each vessel encountered in the Channel.

"Weapons posture for our royal marines will be commensurate with the intelligence-led threat assessment in regards to each vessel," said Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson.

He also said surveillance would be expanded as part of the proposed approach to monitoring boats.

"We will ramp up surveillance, we're going to make sure we know who is in each boat," said Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesperson.

The proposal has drawn criticism, including from Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, who described the idea as "horrific". Reform leader Nigel Farage has also announced plans to suspend the asylum system for up to five years if his party enters government.