Farage unveils small boats deal with French National Rally party

Nigel Farage has agreed a deal with France's hard-right National Rally (RN) party on returning migrants who attempt to cross the English Channel in small boats, should both parties win power.

It comes after Reform UK last month announced a plan to intercept boats and return migrants to French ports using the Royal Navy.

The proposed agreement with RN states that France would "ordinarily accept" those on board, and then repatriate them to their home country.

It was signed at Reform's annual conference in Birmingham by RN President Jordan Bardella, whose party is currently leading in opinion polls ahead of presidential elections in April next year.

In a speech in the main conference hall, ahead of the deal being unveiled, Bardella told delegates that an RN government would "do everything in its power to ensure that France is no longer the gateway for illegal migration into the United Kingdom".

Hailing Farage as the UK's next prime minister, Bardella pledged to work with a potential future Reform government to tackle illegal migration.

France hits out at Reform UK plan to return migrants using Navy

The "memorandum of understanding" unveiled at the conference is a political document, but could be developed into a legal agreement between two future governments, if both parties win power.