Retired Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe Told the 'S Today Programme That the Border Force Already Handles Such Operations'

Retired Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe told the BBC's Today programme that the Border Force already handles such operations. The proposal echoes earlier Conservative ideas that were shelved over legal and treaty concerns. The announcement comes as official figures show 14,526 people have crossed the Channel so far in 2026, down 43% from the same period last year and 14% lower than 2024. Last Wednesday saw the busiest day this year with 752 arrivals.

Farage is fighting a byelection in Clacton after resigning his seat amid a donations scandal, including a failure to declare a £5m gift from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne. All mainstream parties have declined to field candidates against him. Meanwhile, Restore Britain leader Rupert Lowe has offered Farage a pact to unite the "patriotic right, saying in a video posted on X that "there could be sufficient common ground for our two movements to cooperate.

Farage, without naming Lowe or Restore, said Reform has "always been open to anyone. Reform's platform includes mass deportation of illegal migrants, a ban on halal and kosher slaughter, the burqa, cousin marriage and sharia courts, a death penalty referendum, welfare cuts, and excluding former Tory ministers from cabinet."