Key facts
- Jordan Bardella and Nigel Farage are set to unveil a joint proposal on immigration policy.
- Farage's controversial proposal involves using the Royal Navy to intercept migrant boats and return them to France.
- Opposition exists within Bardella's National Rally party, particularly concerning the migrant return plan.
- Marine Le Pen's potential presidential candidacy has influenced Bardella's stance on the proposal.
- Experts doubt the feasibility of the proposed cooperation and Bardella's promises.
- The alliance aims to project ideological alignment on reducing immigration in both countries.
France's Jordan Bardella and Britain's Nigel Farage are expected to present a united front on immigration policy, but internal divisions within Bardella's National Rally party are casting doubt on the smooth sailing of their alliance. Farage's proposal to enlist the Royal Navy to intercept migrant boats and return them to France faces significant hurdles, including the need for a bilateral treaty and potential opposition from within Le Pen's faction of the National Rally.
Bardella, president of the National Rally, is slated to speak at Reform UK's annual conference in Birmingham, outlining joint strategies to combat cross-channel migration. However, his previous support for 'pushbacks' was made when Marine Le Pen's presidential prospects were uncertain. With Le Pen now campaigning as a front-runner for the 2027 French presidential election, her more ideologically rigid stance may complicate Bardella's alignment with Farage's proposals.
Some National Rally officials suggest that a dramatic reduction in immigration by a future National Rally government would negate the need for such measures. However, experts like Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations and Jean-Yves Camus, a far-right specialist, are skeptical, viewing Bardella's promises as unrealistic and highlighting the inherent difficulties in inter-country cooperation on migrant returns. Camus specifically noted the sensitivity of the Calais region, a stronghold for Le Pen's supporters.
Despite these challenges, both Reform UK and the National Rally are striving to project ideological unity on immigration. For Farage, Bardella's endorsement offers a crucial boost on his party's key issue, especially after a summer of scrutiny. For Bardella, the alliance serves to enhance his international profile, benefiting Le Pen's campaign. The two leaders, despite their contrasting styles, share a goal of professionalizing their respective movements and shedding extreme elements.
Their relationship, which began with a convivial meeting in December, has progressed towards formal party alignment. Bardella's decision to deliver his remarks in English is seen as a move to further please Farage's followers and signal Reform UK's connection to a perceived global political movement.