Farage and Bardella sign pact to end Channel migrant crossings

Nigel Farage and Jordan Bardella signed a pact on Friday at the Reform UK Party conference in Birmingham, vowing to end irregular migrant crossings "forever" if their parties gain power. The agreement, hailed by Farage as a "genuine new entente cordiale," targets small boat crossings. Bardella, aiming to become France's next Prime Minister, stated migrants must be sent back to their origin countries, accusing President Macron of failing to protect France. The meeting followed Macron's Thursday visit with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on migration. Reform UK's standing has slumped amid scandals, including a police report over alleged illegal donations, while UK summer boat crossings hit a five-year low.