Former Royal Navy commander warns Reform over ‘performative’ small boats plan as Britain’s fleet devastated

GB News - News

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GB News - Politics

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A former Royal Navy commander has warned Reform UK's plan to deploy sailors to tackle small boat crossings risks being "performative", arguing Britain's shrinking fleet is already overstretched with global commitments.

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Speaking to GB News, Tom Sharpe said the forces could carry out the task "swiftly and competently", but questioned what it would achieve that the Border Force is not already doing under current policy.Earlier today, Reform announced Operation Fortress, which Nigel Farage pledged would end the small boat crisis within two weeks of his party winning the next General Election.

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TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say "This is a vast, human complex problem with massively interlocking levers that reach miles inland into other people's countries," Mr Sharpe said.He argued ministers would first need to decide whether to change Border Force...

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Reform's new policy to end the small boats crisis has been mocked by Labour councillor Stuart Fawcett.

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Appearing on GB News, the former naval officer described Operation Fortress as "a bit more like Operation Bouncy Castle".Announcing the policy today, Nigel Farage said Reform would stop illegal crossings in two weeks after winning a General Election by deploying the Royal Navy to the English Channel.

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"I think it's more like Operation Bouncy Castle at the moment," Mr Fawcett said, adding: "There's a few holes in this dinghy." The Labour councillor raised concern that the policy could break "really important" maritime agreements."I never want any mariner to be faced with a situation where a reciprocal nation isn't going to give them help."He also argued the Royal Navy was not equipped for the task, following years of decline.

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"The landing platform docks have been decommissioned.

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The River class patrol vessels are being decommissioned.

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