Reform reveals plan for Royal Navy to stop small boats in the Channel

Reform UK wants to launch “the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two” to stop small boat arrivals from France. A Nigel Farage-led government would send the Royal Navy into the channel to intercept all migrant boats there and return them to France or Belgium under a plan called “operation fortress”. The party says the plan is in line with international law and that it will both halt small boat arrivals and act as a humanitarian response. Labour criticised the “reheated” announcement and said “anger and easy answers won’t bring crossings down”. Reform UK would use the Royal Navy to stop small boats Sort: August 3, 2026 7:45 amPowell: Schools in ‘straitjacket’ of prioritising academic subjects Education Secretary Lucy Powell has said schools have been stuck in a “straitjacket” of prioritising academic subjects.She said she would review whether teaching is equipping children for their futures as she takes steps to undo reforms brought in under Michael Gove, who made a raft of changes when he held the Cabinet post for the Tories.“The one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t suit all children. For some it’s become a straitjacket. A straitjacket that has left too many being branded a failure — again and again — instead of being able to realise their potential,” she wrote in The Times.Education Secretary Lucy Powell arrives at 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first cabinet meeting (Photo: Getty Images)She said she intended to take a “fresh look at what we are teaching our children and whether we are equipping them for their lives ahead” as part of moves to undo Gove’s education reforms.She pointed the finger at Gove for the number of young people not in education, training or work.“One million. That’s how many young people from the education system Michael Gove presided over who are now left outside education, not in employment and not in training. That’s not a coincidence — it’s a consequence. It’s his legacy.” August 3, 2026 7:36 amNational Grid to launch £5m jobs programme for young people The National Grid is launching a £5m fund that aims to get 5,000 young people into work over the next five years.It comes amid efforts to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (Neet), which has already topped one million.The fund will support up to 1,000 young people annually starting in the first half of 2027, with money invested into practical training, employability skills and qualifications needed for jobs in the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors.An interim report by former Labour minister Alan Milburn, published in May, warned the number of Neets could rise to one in six by 2031 and that Britain risks leaving behind a “lost generation” of young people ill-prepared for work.Tackling joblessness among young people was one of the areas Andy Burnham has highlighted as a key focus since he took over as prime minister.Andy Burnham is aiming to reduce the number of young people not in work, education or training (Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire) August 3, 2026 7:29 amReform UK would use the Royal Navy to stop small boats Reform UK wants to launch “the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two” to stop small boat arrivals from France.A Nigel Farage-led government would send the Royal Navy into the channel to intercept all migrant boats there and return them to France or Belgium under a plan called “operation fortress”.The party says the plan is in line with international law and that it will both halt small boat arrivals and act as a humanitarian response.People wait by the sea to try and board a dinghy into the English Channel in March (Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images)Labour criticised the “reheated” announcement and said “anger and easy answers won’t bring crossings down”.Zia Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesman, said: “Britain is being invaded.“Tory and Labour governments responded with a free ferry service and free hotels.“Reform UK will respond by launching the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two.“Nigel Farage will order his Majesty’s Royal Navy to ensure that not a single unauthorised vessel crossing the English Channel makes it to the shores of the United Kingdom.“Those who attempt it will be intercepted by our Armed Forces and returned to France.” August 3, 2026 7:25 amGood morning – and welcome back Welcome back to The i Paper’s politics blog on Monday, 3 August.We are in the depths of Parliamentary recess now – and while many MPs are back at their constituencies, life Westminster doesn’t grind to a halt.Today, Reform UK is proposing putting the Royal Navy in the Channel to stop small boat crossings.A Nigel Farage-led government would intercept all migrant boats attempting to cross the Channel and return them to France or Belgium under a plan called “operation fortress”.The party says the plan is in line with international law and that it will both halt small boat arrivals and act as a humanitarian response.However, Labour has criticised the “reheated” announcement and said “anger and easy answers won’t bring crossings down”.Meanwhile, the Government is still talking about getting young people into work.Today they have an announcement about the National Grid, which has promised a £5m scheme to get around 5,000 young people jobs.It comes in the wake of efforts to reduce the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who are not in education, employment or training – which has topped a million.We’ll have all the latest.