Farage Admits Small Boat Crossings Drop Despite Out Of Control Claims

Nigel Farage has admitted that the number of small boats coming across the English Channel is falling – but still insisted the migrant crisis is “completely out of control”.

The Reform UK leader vowed last week to use the British Royal Navy to return small boats to France if his party ever got into power.

This proposal triggered a row with the French authorities who called it a breach of international and maritime law.

The number of crossings has fallen this year overall, but the controversial topic resurfaced this week after a record 230 people arrived in the UK on just one large dinghy.

Farage said Britain is evidently heading towards the kind of migrant crisis seen in the Mediterranean during a press conference on Monday.

But, Sky News reporter Rob Powell hit back: “Yes this is the largest number of people arriving in one boat but overall numbers are down quite significantly, 42% down on last year.”

He asked if Farage would acknowledge numbers are falling, adding: “Are you being straight with the British public when you suggest this is an issue that is getting worse?”

The Reform leader replied insisting he “always” thought the boats would get bigger.

“The overall numbers are down,” he admitted. “But they’re still horrendous.”

“Whether we have fewer bad people thus far than last year, the situation is desperate, it should be declared a national security emergency,” Farage said.

“Yes, we have managed to stop some of the dinghies.

“But it doesn’t stop the problem. It doesn’t go away. It is completely out of control.”

He added: “The idea that we should be celebrating that numbers are not as extreme as they were is for the birds.”

Responding to concerns over the mega-dingy, prime minister’s spokesperson told reporters on Monday: “We’ve seen today some appalling images of young babies being put into these unseaworthy craft, and they’re shocking images, and they show the reality behind the ruthless smuggling gangs that are prepared to risk human lives for profit.

“That’s exactly why the government has signed a new payment-by-results deal with the French to prevent these perilous journeys from happening in the first place.”

He said the government was “not complacent” and noted how joint action with the French since the general election had prevented 47,000 crossings.

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