Farage calls Channel migrant surge a national emergency and urges tougher border action

In a recent column, Nigel Farage warned that more than 1,200 illegal migrants have crossed the Channel in just a few days, many only being spotted when they arrived on British shores. He argues this demonstrates a loss of control by the Border Force and the Home Office, labeling the situation a national emergency that should be declared by Andy Burnham. Farage cites comments from Burnham’s deputy Lucy Powell, who acknowledged the impossibility of stopping every boat, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s call for an urgent review.

He estimates the fiscal impact of each arrival at £350,000, noting a single day’s 781 arrivals could cost £273 million. Farage urges a policy of immediately returning all illegal entrants to France and suggests using the Royal Navy to enforce the border, pointing to examples from Australia and Denmark. He claims one outlet approach fuels a “migrant-hotel” culture and calls for decisive action to restore sovereign control over entry.