Right-wing party proposes armed forces intervention to halt Channel crossings

Reform UK has proposed an extensive military-led framework aimed at completely stopping small boat migration across the English Channel.

The policy proposal outlines leveraging combined military and intelligence tracking technology to create a heavily monitored sea border, alongside granting emergency powers to armed forces to intercept vessels and push them back toward French territory.

The plan includes expanding detention facilities to enable immediate offshore or domestic processing and deportation without eligibility for standard asylum routes.

To facilitate these changes, the party stated it would pursue major legal shifts, including withdrawing the United Kingdom from the European Convention on Human Rights and replacing current national human rights legislation with a new domestic framework.

Critics and legal scholars have questioned the feasibility of the measures, pointing out potential conflicts with international maritime agreements and international law.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated his administration would maintain a relentless focus on tackling immigration networks through increased enforcement and cross-border security cooperation.