Story perspectives

Farage, Bardella sign pact to intercept and return migrants

9/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

Reform UK's Nigel Farage signed a memorandum of understanding with French National Rally president Jordan Bardella in Birmingham.
The pact says the UK will intercept boats from French shores and return migrants.
France would ordinarily accept the returned persons for expulsion, though Farage called the memorandum not legally binding.
Labour called the agreement meaningless, while Reform UK received £4 million from a crypto billionaire pardoned by President Donald Trump.

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Story summary

Reform UK's Nigel Farage signed a memorandum of understanding with French National Rally president Jordan Bardella in Birmingham.
The pact says the UK will intercept boats from French shores and return migrants.
France would ordinarily accept the returned persons for expulsion, though Farage called the memorandum not legally binding.
Labour called the agreement meaningless, while Reform UK received £4 million from a crypto billionaire pardoned by President Donald Trump.