When reminded of Paris's response to the party's "Operation Fortress", the Reform MP told GMB: "Oh it's illegal to save lives in the English Channel? "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. "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 ****" by former Royal Navy officer John Foreman.