A former Royal Navy commander has warned Reform UK's plan to deploy sailors to tackle small boat crossings risks being “performative”, arguing Britain's shrinking fleet is already overstretched with global commitments. Earlier today, Reform announced Operation Fortress, which Nigel Farage pledged would end the small boat crisis within two weeks of his party winning the next General Election. It would see the navy intercept and return all small boats attempting to cross the Channel in the “largest military operation since World War Two”. A former Royal Navy commander has warned Reform over plans to deploy the Navy to tackle small boat crossings | PA“If you want the Royal Navy to do it... you're going to have to start recalling ships from around the world. Even still, the former commander warned that the Royal Navy's capabilities had already been greatly reduced.