The remark that started the row

Robert Jenrick, a Reform UK MP who defected from the Conservatives, told TalkTV on Monday, 12 October, that a Reform government would deploy the Royal Marines into the Channel to take migrant boats back to France. He said the problem would come to an end "within a matter of days" and that the use of force was "obviously not what we want to see happen". LBC reports that he put the same idea to the Commons chamber that day and called on the Prime Minister to declare a national security emergency over the country's borders. The line that set off the row was this.

“If they need to use lethal force, then they'll be able to do so.”

Farage's response

Nigel Farage told LBC that Jenrick's comments were 'utterly misconstrued' and that he would not authorise routine use of force. In his account, the Royal Marines would respond only if personnel were fired on, and he said that in migrant camps there are shootings and stabbings every week. He argued that the Reform plan targets very serious international criminal organisations and that boats taken back to France would stop coming within two weeks. Farage also said there was a possibility that the policy might initially meet some force, and that force would then be met with force.

“Anybody wearing British military uniform who gets fired at has the right to respond. That's what he was saying.”

The Independent described Farage's remarks as a rowing back of Jenrick's claim, while POLITICO reported on Tuesday that he doubled down on the pledge. Both accounts relate to the same interview cycle on the morning of Tuesday, 13 October.

Labour's attack

Luke Pollard, the Labour defence minister, told Times Radio on Tuesday, 13 October, that the plan was 'disgusting and illegal' and 'abhorrent to British military values'. He said Royal Navy personnel, like all armed forces, are not allowed to accept an illegal order. Pollard also called the proposal a soundbite designed by Reform to distract from its sleaze and scandal, and he referred to unanswered questions about where the £5m for Nigel Farage came from. He said the idea was abhorrent to British values and that no one should give it any truck.

“We do not shoot unarmed civilians. We do not take military action against civilians.”

The policy backdrop

Reform's small-boat plan, Operation Fortress, was published in August. The plan says lethal force may be used where that is lawful and necessary for self-defence or to defend others from an immediate threat to life. POLITICO reports that Farage has announced plans to shut down Britain's asylum system for five years if he takes office. Farage told LBC that Iranian operatives are being smuggled into the UK on small boats, citing an attempted terror attack on a Jewish synagogue in Manchester, and that the risk to Britain is 'just too high'. These are Farage's own claims as reported by LBC.

Crossing figures

Andy Burnham replied in the Commons that small boat crossings are coming down under this Government and said that they went up and up when Jenrick was immigration minister. LBC reports 20,935 arrivals so far this year, down 42% on the 36,244 recorded at this stage in 2025 and 19% below the 25,931 recorded at this stage in 2023. Recorded Channel crossings are at their lowest since 2021, according to LBC.

Same point 202325,931

Same point 202536,244

2026 so far20,935

Same point 2023

25931 arrivals

Same point 2025

36244 arrivals

2026 so far

20935 arrivals

Data from the article text