France’s presidential frontrunner Jordan Bardella is moving to forge an alliance with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage to "restore Europe’s borders" after the pair held talks in London on Tuesday.
Mr Bardella, the leader of the National Rally party, pledged to change France’s border policy to support Britain in tackling the Channel small boats crisis should he secure victory in next year's elections.
Speaking to The Telegraph, the 30-year-old said he would support joint patrols with Britain and give the UK Border Force the green light to carry out “pushbacks” in the Channel.
Despite repeated attempts by successive British Governments, France has so far refused to take back vessels that attempt to reach British shores.
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The National Rally leader also vowed that Mr Farage “will be the next Prime Minister” and labelled Labour's "one-in-one-out" deal a political "smokescreen".
Mr Bardella insisted that France should let its allies follow the same rules it expects for itself.
He told The Telegraph: “NGOs funded by public money go and pick up boats 20 kilometres off the Tunisian or Libyan coast and then Frontex [the European border and coast guard agency] takes them.
"I’m against this, so I have to be consistent with my principles.
"I can’t defend the notion of pushbacks and then refuse to allow Great Britain to do the same."
Mr Bardella pledged to change France’s border policy to support Britain in tackling the Channel small boats crisis
|X/J_BARDELLA
The 30-year-old is widely tipped to reach the second round of next year's French presidential elections.
He is predicted to secure between 35 to 37 per cent of the vote, safely in front of the second-place candidate.
After the meeting, Mr Bardella was full of praise for his British counterpart, labelling Mr Farage a "pioneer" who fought for Britain's independence from the EU.
The National Rally leader described the talks as preparations for governing.
And over lunch, according to The Spectator, Mr Farage told him he would instruct the Royal Navy to turn back small boats in the Channel - one of Reform's longest-held campaign promises.
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The 30-year-old said he would give the green light for UK Border Force to carry out 'pushbacks' in the Channel
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He said: "We came to the conclusion that we must prepare our political movements to exercise power and that it is possible we will do so at the same time."
Discussing his plans for France should he win the presidency, the 30-year-old pledged to delegate asylum processing to consulates and embassies overseas and carry out “the systematic expulsion of foreign offenders and criminals”.
Mr Bardella also vowed to give French citizens “priority access to social housing and social assistance”.
He added that he believes these policies will transform France into “the least attractive country for mass immigration in Europe” and help put an end to Channel crossings.
Mr Bardella is widely tipped to reach the second round of next year's French presidential elections
|GETTY
The National Rally leader stated his belief that Mr Farage 'will be the next Prime Minister'
| PASpeaking to the Political Thinking podcast, the National Rally leader declared: "If I am head of the French Government tomorrow, France will no longer be a country of mass immigration.
"Therefore, by implementing measures designed to drastically reduce immigration to France, this will inevitably have consequences for the departure of migrants from Calais, in northern France, to Great Britain."
After the talks, Mr Farage wrote on social media: "Over lunch with Jordan Bardella today, I made it clear that the future of Anglo-French relations depends on the UK being able to carry out push backs into French waters.
"It is encouraging to see that this position is now reflected in his policy."
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