Nigel Farage has called for an £800 million refund from French President Emmanuel Macron after GB News captured footage of a French naval vessel escorting a migrant boat carrying at least 70 people into British waters.
The incident occurred as small boat arrivals across the Channel are on track to reach record levels this year, intensifying scrutiny of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s border policies ahead of Macron’s state visit to the UK this week.
Farage, leader of Reform UK, was onboard a vessel in the Channel during the latest recorded crossing, which he described as “a farce”. “We’ve paid £800 million to the French, and this is the result,” he told GB News, referencing the UK’s funding agreements intended to help French authorities stop small boat launches.
Since the start of 2025, 21,117 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats—an increase of 55 per cent compared to the same period last year. The summer peak has yet to begin, suggesting the current year could surpass previous records for small boat migration. Last year, 29,437 people made the journey. At the current pace, that figure is expected to be significantly exceeded.
The French navy’s role in escorting boats has come under particular criticism. GB News footage showed a French vessel shadowing a dinghy until it was handed over to the UK Border Force at the 12-mile maritime boundary.
Farage said:
“We’ve got Border Force sitting on the 12-mile line waiting for the handover. This is a daily occurrence. We’re not deterring, we’re facilitating.”
He also criticised British policy, suggesting the crisis stemmed more from domestic inaction than French unwillingness: “We can be upset with the French, but it’s our fault. No one gets deported. You’d need 10,000 troops on the beach to stop these boats. We might as well have a sign on the White Cliffs of Dover saying ‘everyone welcome’.”
The average number of migrants per boat has also risen, now standing at 58 per vessel, up from 53 last year. Most vessels are dinghies or inflatable boats, often overloaded and prone to capsizing. So far in 2025, nine people have died attempting the crossing. In 2024, 73 lives were lost in the Channel, making it the deadliest year on record for small boat migration.
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to raise the issue directly with Macron during the French President’s three-day state visit. The Prime Minister is reportedly seeking a “one in, one out” agreement to enable returns of migrants to France. However, the deal is facing resistance from other EU member states and Macron’s domestic political rivals, making a breakthrough unlikely.
The French government has also faced criticism for its border enforcement practices. Footage released last month showed French police observing as migrants boarded boats unimpeded in shallow waters. Defence Secretary John Healey described the footage as “pretty shocking” and pointed to limitations in French law, which currently prevent police from intervening until vessels are 300 metres offshore.
Nonetheless, French authorities claim to have stopped 33,638 attempted crossings since May 2024. This includes over 12,000 individuals prevented in the first half of 2025 alone. On average, around 2,300 people are intercepted by French police each month, amounting to a prevention rate of approximately 41.5 per cent.
Farage’s intervention comes amid growing public concern over the UK’s asylum system. Around one-third of asylum applications in 2024 were made by individuals who arrived via small boats. The overall grant rate stands at 68 per cent, though outcomes vary significantly by country. Applicants from Syria, Eritrea, and Afghanistan are most likely to be granted asylum, while claimants from Albania or Vietnam face much lower success rates.
Despite rising crossings, the UK receives fewer asylum applications overall compared to several European counterparts. France received nearly 158,000 applications in 2024, while the UK received just over 108,000.
Farage also criticised the post-Brexit UK–France fishing agreement, arguing Britain has ceded too much while receiving little in return.
“The fish in our waters are French, and the migrants are ours,” he remarked. “We’ve given them fish for 12 years and £800 million. We should be demanding a refund.”
With 330 small boats already arriving in 2025, and crossings expected to increase as summer progresses, pressure is mounting on the UK Prime Minister to produce tangible results from this week’s diplomatic discussions. Any failure to secure a more robust enforcement agreement with France is likely to intensify political pressure, especially from parties advocating tighter border controls.
In Parliament earlier this week, Farage was met with heckles as he raised the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions.
“They can shout me down,” he said, “but the public is furious. They’re linking this crisis not just with unfairness but with rising crime. And they’re right to be concerned.”
