AdvertisementReform would supposedly then return the asylum seekers on board to where they came from in “the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two”. “Without the agreement of the French government, it won’t work,” Hawkins said, becoming increasingly exasperated. Anderson said it was a “violation of our sovereignty” for migrants to cross the English Channel and then commit “awful crimes” in the UK. Advertisement“Things need to be done, but if the French won’t agree to it, then unfortunately it’s not a workable policy,” Hawkins hit back. Reform’s plans to address the English Channel crossings have also been described as a “crock of shit” by former Royal Navy officer John Foreman.