A Brexit Spartan has called for forces akin to the Special Boat Service to physically stop small boats crossing the channel.
Ben Habib, Deputy Leader of Reform UK, who today confirmed that he will stand as the party's candidate in the constituency of Wellingborough, told the People’s Channel that his party would physically stop the boats.
During a press conference in London today, the former Brexit Party MEP was presented by party leader Richard Tice as the man that will take on the Tories and Labour at the upcoming by-election and wasted no time in targeting immigration.
Habib told GB News: “We will stop the boats; we will stop the boats; we will physically stop the boats.
Ben Habib calls for ‘Special Boat Service in channel’ to end migrant crisis
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“We [Reform UK] will get trained, dedicated, and sophisticated Special Boat Service-type forces in the channel.”
The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the Special Forces unit of the British Royal Navy.
The unit, which is mainly made up of Royal Marine Commandos, is in place to take offensive action and provide a response to Maritime counterterrorism.
When asked if British forces should be deployed to the English Channel to stop the boats, Habib added: “Absolutely, that’s what border control is, it’s controlling your border.”
The comments from the newly confirmed Wellingborough candidate have come under fire from both the Conservative and Labour parties, with the former Chair of the Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood MP saying: “This proposal is not serious politics but headline-grabbing populism.
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Small boat crossing in British Channel
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“It reflects ignorance of the composition and function of the SBS (it’s a single battalion - 300 strength - that could not physically patrol the whole English Channel).”
Ellwood added: “I assure you, the SBS are extremely busy dealing with a range of serious, live threats to our security, they are warriors, not civilian border forces.
“We all want this issue resolved but not by breaching international law, and potentially killing refugees.
“Not a good look for a nation that tries to defend and uphold Global Order.”
Ben Habib today confirmed that he will stand as Reform UK's candidate in the constituency of Wellingborough
The response from former Labour Party Shadow Defence Minister Khalid Mahmood was equally critical of the remarks.
Mahmood said: “This comment from Reform UK demonstrates the lack of understanding it has of the serious issues of Human Rights.
“The SBS, a unit of SAS, is a highly trained combat unit, the unit would not be able to engage in combat with the people on the boats as the people are unarmed, any loss of life would be liable to the SBS.”
Habib also launched a scathing attack on Sunak’s Government and suggested that a General Election won’t take place until the end of 2024.
“Sunak won’t call an early General Election as it will be turkeys voting for Christmas, I think he will wait until November as there’s no good news.
“He [Sunak] can’t get control immigration, and all of the measures he has put in place to try and tackle immigration don’t come into effect until April, I know a year is a long time in politics, but I can’t see any significant steps that he’s taken that would re-engage the Conservative party with the electorate.”
