Nigel Farage has accused the British and French governments of “colluding and allowing” the Channel small-boat trade, after undercover footage appeared to show French authorities returning suspected smugglers to the coast.
The Reform UK leader made the claim after TalkTV footage showed undercover reporter Christian Drogan posing as a criminal on the run while attempting to join a migrant crossing from northern France.
The footage showed a French Gendarmerie patrol boat approaching the dinghy and warning those aboard that the sea ahead was dangerous. Four men described as smugglers reportedly accepted an offer to return to shore.
Farage said the episode demonstrated that the current system was failing to disrupt the criminal networks organising crossings.
He said: “This is two Governments who basically, despite everything they tell you, are effectively colluding and allowing a criminal trafficking enterprise.”
He added: “We’ve given them well over a billion pounds and it’s not working. I’ve always said – detain and deport.”
Farage also claimed the boats were increasingly carrying predominantly young men and issued a stark warning about the potential security implications.
“Really, the only people who make it on the boats are young fit males,” he said.
“These are aggressive, dangerous young males. There are some who say, could turn into a force within this country, perhaps even an army within this country that is against us.”
The crisis in the Channel has been a national security emergency since the beginning.
Instead of taking action, Labour backbenchers shouted ’shame on you’ in the House of Commons. pic.twitter.com/MLLIlufu2a
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) August 25, 2026
The comments came as Reform prepares to push its proposal for a military-led response to Channel crossings.
The party has pledged to establish a joint command involving the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RAF and British Army, backed by a dedicated surveillance operation.
Under the proposed policy, Royal Navy vessels would intercept unauthorised boats, provide passengers with food, water and medical assessments, and return them to France or Belgium under escort.
Reform has suggested using River-class offshore patrol vessels, alongside Bay-class vessels capable of accommodating larger numbers of people.
Farage argued that stopping crossings would ultimately benefit communities along the French coast.
“It’s actually in France’s interest to sort this out,” he told TalkTV.
“Can you imagine if you lived in one of those villages near Calais on the coast. This is now going as far west as Dieppe.
“If we stop this, there will be a huge number of residents in Northern France very, very grateful that their lives are made better.”
He rejected criticism that his proposal was impractical, saying: “All this bluster I’ve had from the other political leaders, and much of the media, that what I’m saying is unworkable, I actually think in the end, we would get the French to work with us on it.”
🚨🚨🚨"Exclusive for Talk, Christian Drogan becomes the first man to invade his own country."
TALK EXCLUSIVE, Isabel Oakeshott reveals the first ever covert reporter to cross the English channel on a migrant dinghy revealing the horror behind the crossings.@IsabelOakeshott pic.twitter.com/eIdIHiSCZa
— Talk (@TalkTV) August 25, 2026
Farage also accused Britain of being a “soft touch” on asylum, arguing that people whose claims are rejected often remain in the UK.
“Frankly, it makes no difference whether we grant them asylum or not. They don’t leave anyway. They just disappear,” he said.
“And they are straight into drugs gangs or whatever it is.”
He added: “We’re the soft touch. We’re dishing out asylum, we’re ultimately dishing out British passports willy nilly, because we fear that we won’t send them anywhere anyway.
“The whole thing is a complete joke.”
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