Reform's policy of using the Royal Navy to forcibly return boat people back to France is both dangerous, unworkable and illegal and quite frankly the result of deranged thinking. It is a disingenuous plot to appeal to a certain section of the British population who falsely believe that the boat people problem can be resolved by force and deployment of military resources.
The Royal Navy is opposed to this policy on both moral and legal grounds and rightly so. Royal Naval personnel are legally and morally bound to save innocent people who are in distress on the sea, not to arrest them or transport them anywhere against their will. Even if the Royal Nay were obliged to sink an enemy ship which was attacking them or our country, they would still be obliged to rescue survivors and they would do this willingly. The Royal Navy Service men and women are, of course warriors, but they are not barbarians and they willingly adhere to international law and conventions.
If, Royal Navy service personnel were to enter French terrestrial waters to land migrants, without permission, then the French authorities would be within their rights to arrest the crew and confiscate their ship. Why should our personnel be subjected to this risk?
On the political front France could and would probably annul the Le Touquet agreement for juxtaposed border controls at the channel tunnel, the UK would then be expected to vet entrants to the UK on the British side of the channel rather than the French side. This would do nothing to help prevent irregular entries to UK shores.
On the diplomatic front the Reform policy is irresponsible, as their policy is to withdraw from the ECHR and abolish the UK Human Rights Act. Such a policy would jeopardise the Good Friday agreement and Britain's trade relations with Europe and would also mean that our country would become an International Pariah. Brexit has already damaged our economy and diplomatic relations with our closest neighbours, and leaving the ECHR would ruin them. Leaving the ECHR will complete the Brexit agenda and would then ruin the country.
The problem of irregular crossings can only be resolved by intense co-operation with our neighbours, acting alone will only antagonise our erstwhile neighbours and make the situation worse and even more intolerable. This dangerous policy of grandstanding and appearing to be tough on immigration just to get votes must be stopped. The British people, in general, will not be fooled by this and they will vote against it.
https://inews.co.uk/news/world/no-farage-royal-navy-cant-stop-small-boats-this-why-4684472
https://www.france24.com/en/20180117-france-britains-le-touquet-treaty-migration-key-points
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