Reform UK’s leader called the situation in the English Channel an “out-of-control disaster”.
Nigel Farage reacts to Channel crossing reports (Image: Getty)
Nigel Farage has branded illegal migrant arrivals via the English Channel an “out-of-control disaster that poses a massive threat to our national security”. Reform UK’s leader made the comments when reports suggested 520 migrants arrived in the UK on small boats on Friday.
Mr Farage said: “This is an out-of-control disaster that poses a massive threat to our national security. lllegal migrants are now coming from as far as Belgium in boats with foreign flags on them. It’s clear this crisis is only getting worse under Open Borders Burnham.”
This follows 263 migrants arriving via the Channel on Thursday, according to the Home Office.
It comes as a man wielding a knife threatened migrants on board a dinghy in France headed for the UK as Channel crossing attempts continued after a three-week hiatus.
In dramatic footage captured, the man can be seen moving towards the boat holding a knife while in waist-deep water as a man aboard the boat tries to hit him with a boot.
As the man in the water drew his arm back, he appeared to drop the knife into the sea.
The knifeman did not appear to board the UK-bound boat after the incident.
French rescue boats can be seen in the background.
The 21-day break in arrivals is the longest for the year so far amid high sea swell and wind in the Channel.
Almost 9,250 small boat migrants have completed the 21-mile journey since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister in July.
The total number of crossings under Labour now stands at 86,312, which is larger than the population of towns such as Guildford and Grimsby.