The party says under its plan it would override French objections to return migrants to France.

Nigel Farage has insisted his party's plans to intercept and return migrant boats using the Navy are legal, as critics branded the scheme unworkable. Reform UK said it would use military personnel to forcibly return small boat migrants to French ports, even if France disagreed. Speaking at a news conference, Reform leader Farage said he was "entirely confident" the plan could be justified under international maritime law. The Conservatives have said the plan is not credible, while a Labour minister said it would lead to "a lot of time arguing with France" instead of "actually getting to grips with the problem". Under the plans, which Reform said it would bring in if it entered government after the next election, military-crewed inflatable boats deployed from 10 Navy patrol vessels would be used to "come alongside" migrant boats crossing the English Channel. Border Force officers and police stationed onboard would be tasked with arresting people in the boats, and they would then be returned to France or Belgium by Navy personnel or Marines. The party said returns' operations would be conducted by military personnel with Border Force officers on hand in case of "non-compliance", with a Bay Class landing ship providing "detention capacity at sea" for up to 700 people. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Reform's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said the party would aim to get agreement to disembark arrested migrants at French ports.