Farage and Bardella Migration Deal Sparks Outrage in France

Nigel Farage, leader of the UK's Reform party, and Jordan Bardella, president of France's National Rally, signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday aimed at ending small boat crossings across the English Channel. The agreement, signed at the Reform party's annual conference, would take effect if both parties win power. It aims to return asylum seekers arriving in Britain by small boat to France, which would then return them to their home countries in accordance with its own laws. While the next UK general election is not until 2029, Bardella hopes to become France's prime minister if his party wins national elections next year. The deal has drawn sharp criticism in France. Edouard Philippe, former prime minister and conservative presidential candidate for 2027, called the agreement a complete turnaround for the National Rally and questioned whether party leader Marine Le Pen agrees with Bardella. Gabriel Attal, former prime minister and leader of the Renaissance party, stated the deal shows the National Rally's submission to the interests of other nations. Raphael Glucksmann of the centre-left Place Publique party also described the move as a sign of weakness in defending French interests. Bardella rejected the criticism, stating that if they take power, they will do everything possible to limit migration in both France and England.