Zia’s pitch to be Reform’s next leader? Yusuf demands Royal Navy is used to force migrant boats back to France as he is accused of naked move to succeed under-fire Farage
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK's home affairs spokesman, told the party's annual conference that Nigel Farage would order the Royal Navy to turn back Channel migrant boats on his first day as prime minister, and pledged that Reform would carry out "the largest mass deportation operation in modern history". The speech has fuelled speculation that Yusuf is positioning himself to succeed Farage, who is currently facing scrutiny over the source of party donations; a former Reform activist claimed openly that Yusuf was "running to replace" the leader.
Yusuf said a Reform government would use the Royal Marines to "arrest" those crossing the Channel and would give Britain "the most secure borders on Earth", with Farage reportedly ordering the Navy to stop unauthorised vessels via the First Sea Lord. However, this pledge was somewhat overshadowed minutes later when Farage announced a cross-Channel agreement with France's Rassemblement National, under which France would take back blocked migrants and handle their deportation if both parties win power. RN leader Jordan Bardella addressed the conference in Birmingham, promising that a future French government would ensure France was no longer "the gateway for illegal migration into the United Kingdom" and vowed to dismantle smuggling networks.
In short
- Yusuf pledges Navy-enforced Channel pushbacks under a future Farage government
- Speech seen as a leadership pitch amid questions over Farage's donations
- Farage separately unveils migrant return deal with France's Rassemblement National
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters argue that preventing unauthorised Channel crossings and returning people to France could deter dangerous journeys, weaken smuggling networks and reassure the public that the border is under control. They see firm enforcement, including naval intervention and a return agreement, as a legitimate way for an elected government to uphold immigration rules and protect confidence in the asylum system.
The case against
Critics argue that using military forces to turn boats back could endanger people at sea and deny them a fair chance to seek asylum, while mass deportations risk separating families or returning people to danger. They question whether the proposals are lawful and workable without France’s cooperation, and warn that forceful rhetoric may deepen tensions without addressing why people flee or how claims should be processed.
Explained simply
Reform UK is a right-wing political party led by Nigel Farage that has campaigned heavily on reducing immigration, including the numbers of people crossing the English Channel in small boats. The party has grown in prominence in recent years and holds its policies up for debate at an annual conference, where senior figures set out how a future Reform government would act.
Zia Yusuf is Reform UK's home affairs spokesman and a senior figure within the party. He previously served as Reform's chairman before stepping down from that role, and has remained an influential and outspoken voice on immigration policy.
Channel crossings by migrants in small boats have been a long-running and contentious issue in British politics, with successive governments criticised over how to reduce them and what to do with people who arrive this way. Nigel Farage has faced separate questions in recent times about where some of Reform's funding comes from, adding a layer of internal party tension to public discussion of his leadership.