Farage denies that Reform would allow Marines to shoot small boat migrants

Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today. Join today Already a member? Log in Farage denies that Reform would allow Marines to shoot small boat migrants in English Channel Millie Cooke Tuesday 13 October 2026 12:13 BST Bookmark popover Removed from bookmarks Close popover Related: French police spray migrants looking to cross English Channel Nigel Farage has rowed back on statements made by Reform UK treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick , who suggested that a Reform government would permit the Royal Marines to use lethal force against migrants crossing the English Channel without permission. Farage clarified that lethal force would not be used routinely and would only be authorised if armed forces were fired at by criminal gangs while intercepting boats and returning them to France. Defence minister Luke Pollard condemned the proposal as illegal and abhorrent to British military values, emphasising that UK armed forces are forbidden from obeying illegal orders or shooting unarmed civilians. Prime minister Andy Burnham and Labour chair Bridget Phillipson dismissed the suggestion, with Burnham pointing out that small boat crossings have fallen considerably compared to when Jenrick was immigration minister. The controversy follows widespread criticism of Reform UK's wider policy announcement to suspend Britain's asylum system for five years and deport pending applicants, which campaigners branded profoundly un-British. In full Nigel Farage rows back on Jenrick’s claim that Reform would let Navy use ‘lethal force’ against migrants