Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has warned that Britain is “on the edge of serious civil disturbance” over the illegal immigration crisis, following protests in Dover and Portsmouth.
Farage said that he had predicted since 2020 that the crisis in the Channel would “get out of control”. “I predicted an invasion and, boy, is it happening”, he said.
The government says small-boat arrivals are falling, but Farage urged people to “think about who’s coming”, warning of criminality and threats to national security.
“Both governments have failed us completely and utterly”, he said, accusing ministers of responding by “attack[ing] little old ladies in Portsmouth who came out of their houses to say: ‘We don’t want this. We’re scared.’”
Farage dismissed the French government’s pledge of 45 additional officers to tackle boat crossings, pointing out that it was inadequate as launch points spread further along the French coast.
“Forget about 45 - you need 45,000 people to police a stretch like that”, he said.
Farage said that Reform UK’s agreement with Jordan Bardella and the National Rally would enable a future Reform government to return boats to France.
“If we start to do that, within a fortnight they will stop coming”, he said. “Anybody else that comes illegally, in the back of a lorry or whatever it is, will immediately be detained prior to deportation.”
“The only way we’re going to solve this is through the ballot box. The only political party that will give you that solution is Reform UK.”
“This is a serious situation. It’s about to get significantly worse. The government needs to act.”
Farage said that he had predicted since 2020 that the crisis in the Channel would “get out of control”. “I predicted an invasion and, boy, is it happening”, he said.
The government says small-boat arrivals are falling, but Farage urged people to “think about who’s coming”, warning of criminality and threats to national security.
“Both governments have failed us completely and utterly”, he said, accusing ministers of responding by “attack[ing] little old ladies in Portsmouth who came out of their houses to say: ‘We don’t want this. We’re scared.’”
Farage dismissed the French government’s pledge of 45 additional officers to tackle boat crossings, pointing out that it was inadequate as launch points spread further along the French coast.
“Forget about 45 - you need 45,000 people to police a stretch like that”, he said.
Farage said that Reform UK’s agreement with Jordan Bardella and the National Rally would enable a future Reform government to return boats to France.
“If we start to do that, within a fortnight they will stop coming”, he said. “Anybody else that comes illegally, in the back of a lorry or whatever it is, will immediately be detained prior to deportation.”
“The only way we’re going to solve this is through the ballot box. The only political party that will give you that solution is Reform UK.”
“This is a serious situation. It’s about to get significantly worse. The government needs to act.”
