Retired Falklands commander calls for machine-gunning of Channel migrant boats
Julian Thompson, the 92-year-old former commander of the Falklands land operation, said in a documentary that migrant vessels crossing the Channel should be shot with a machine gun, sparking condemnation from the Home Office and Conservative politicians.
During a documentary on mass immigration, former Falklands land-operation commander Major-General Julian Thompson, now 92, advocated machine-gunning boats carrying migrants across the English Channel, saying the fire should be aimed at the vessels. He claimed Britain could halt the arrivals "tomorrow" if it had the courage, adding that a single burst would send a clear message. The Home Office responded that any private use of force would carry serious criminal penalties.
Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp condemned the suggestion as wholly inappropriate and urged alternative solutions, including faster deportations. Thompson also expressed disdain for the migrants, linking them to crime and describing their religion as "flawed". His remarks have ignited a public outcry and renewed debate over the UK’s immigration enforcement policies.
Why it matters
The comments revive a heated debate on how to handle illegal Channel crossings and test the limits of political rhetoric versus law.
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