Zia Yusuf has insisted that a reform government would order the navy to return migrant boats Francebecause he was accused of wanting to replace Nigel Farage as a leader.
The party’s home affairs spokesman also said the Royal Marines would be deployed to “arrest” those making the journey, as he delivered a speech at the annual conference in Birmingham.
Mr Yusuf said a reform government would carry out “the largest mass deportation operation in modern history” and remove anyone who had arrived illegally.
But his speech promising to give Britain “the most secure borders in the world” came as he was linked with a bid to replace Farage, who faces major questions over the source of the party’s donations.
Before his speech, Yusuf posted a video online about ‘his story’ as the son of medical workers from Sri Lanka who came to Britain in the 1980s.
Tim Montgomery, a former reform activist and commentator who resigned his membership after criticizing the party leader, said: ‘The sooner [Mr Farage] realizes that this man is running to replace him as leader, so much the better.”
Zia Yusuf has insisted that a reform government would order the navy to return migrant boats to France
But his speech promising to give Britain “the most secure borders on earth” came as he was linked to a push to replace Mr Farage.
In his speech, Mr Yusuf appeared to impose a heavy workload on Mr Farage for his first day in Number 10 if Reform wins the next election.
He told deputies, “He [Mr Farage] puts his suitcase on the desk, answers the phone to the First Sea Lord and delivers an order.
“He will direct His Majesty’s Royal Navy to ensure that no unauthorized vessel reaches the shores of Great Britain.”
But this claim was somewhat undermined minutes later when Farage unveiled an agreement between the party and France’s hard-right National Rally (RN).
If RN – or Rassemblement National in French – comes to power next year and Reform wins the British elections due in 2029, France would take back migrants who were not allowed to cross the border and take responsibility for their deportation to their home country or other third countries.
Party chairman Jordan Bardella followed Yusuf onto the stage for a keynote speech.
“Dear friends here in Birmingham, I make this promise to you. “If the French people bring us to power in a few months’ time in 2027, with the Rassemblement National and Marine le Pen, our government will do everything it can to ensure that France is no longer the gateway for illegal migration to the United Kingdom.”
He added: ‘The destination of illegal migrants entering France should not be Britain, they should be sent back to their country of origin.’
He continued: “We must end these deadly routes, we must break the smugglers’ business model and together we must take control of our borders.”
Later, reform activist Nadine Dorries suggested Yusuf should spend less time on social media after he was criticized over a series of inflammatory tweets, including one about Sagal Abdi-Wali, the future Labor candidate in Holborn and St Pancras who came to Britain as a refugee.
Ms Dorries told Times Radio: ‘I think Zia has a problem with Twitter and someone needs to take his phone away from him.”
