Farage denies Reform would order troops to shoot small boats after Jenrick's 'lethal force' claim

Nigel Farage has pushed back against claims from Robert Jenrick that Reform's small boats policy would authorise Royal Marines to use lethal force against Channel crossings. The denial emerged as the freshest flashpoint in a two-day row over Reform's pledge to suspend Britain's asylum system for a full five-year parliamentary term. Farage launched the plan in Kent, posing beside a 43ft replica of the mega-dinghy that carried a record 230 migrants in a single crossing in August. The policy would void all 90,000 outstanding asylum appeals, close resettlement schemes and deport claimants — including women and children.

Farage refused to exempt Palestinian or Afghan children from deportation, warning that doing so would 'open the door to family reunions' and 'plenty of young men coming as well'.

Reform would impose tariffs, visa bans and flight bans on countries — including Pakistan, Somalia and Eritrea — that refuse to accept deportees sent back under the plan.

Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the proposals 'largely copy' the Conservatives' own plan, while refugee charities condemned them as 'unworkable'.