The Royal Navy will abandon Priti Patel’s plans to push back small boats in the Channel amid concerns that they are illegal and could lead to the death of more migrants.
Boris Johnson is handing the military responsibility for overseeing Border Force and other government agencies operating in the Channel in an attempt to stem the number of migrants coming to Britain. It is one of several populist policies intended to shore up his leadership amid calls for him to go.
However, military sources made clear that the navy would focus on escorting migrants to shore for processing in new migrant hubs. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, chief of the defence staff, believes the plan ensures “no one gets to the UK on their own terms”.
