The anti-migrant protest group, which has staged balaclava-clad demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth, is said to be considering taking out a vessel to confront would-be asylum seekers as they cross to Britain.
An undercover Sun on Sunday reporter at the Portsmouth protest last Sunday heard balaclava-clad members discussing the tactic.
It would likely involve the group taking a hired boat into international waters, potentially disrupting the busiest shipping lane in the world.
They may then attempt to turn a dinghy around and take it back to France or simply block it.
Border Force or the French fleet could have to intervene.
There is no suggestion group leader Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, is involved.
He has staged stunts including trips to Calais and Dunkirk beaches, and was banned from France after slashing ditched migrant dinghies.
A source said of the Channel plot: “The idea has been discussed.
“It’s an early-stage idea, but in the eyes of the activists, physically stopping a boat when the French and Home Office can’t do it would be a major moment.
“It could end in tragedy, but shows how furious these people are.”
Last Sunday, the launch of a migrant dinghy from Normandy sparked a flash protest in Portsmouth, where a volunteer RNLI lifeboat took 120 would-be asylum seekers to shore at Eastney Docks.
Their arrival was delayed for several hours by Tommo and balaclava-clad protesters who had a stand-off with Hampshire Police officers.
The migrants were eventually brought ashore for processing, but coaches taking them to Home Office sites in Dover were followed by far-right activists.
It came after a similar protest shut the Port of Dover last Saturday.
The group marched through the Kent town, chanting “Whose streets? Our streets” and “Stop the boats” as dozens of police officers followed.
The march prompted condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the scenes as “disgusting” and said protesters should not be allowed to demonstrate while wearing balaclavas.
He said: “It’s disgusting. Nobody in any political protest, on the left or right, should appear in balaclavas.
Nightmare for Andy Burnham as Reform win 7 by-elections with Labour smashed in 1 key vote
The Reform UK leader took to X following Reform UK victories in a series of council by-elections.
Rachel Reeves says Andy Burnham will be next Prime Minister
Nigel Farage has hailed seven council by-election wins for Reform UK. The Reform leader took to X to celebrate the victories in town halls across the country following ballots yesterday.
He said: “Good news! Reform won seven council by-elections last night. Take the St Helens Town Centre Ward, last up in 2022. We went from 0% to 39%, smashing Labour. The Conservatives got 3.6%. They are no longer a national party.
“In Wilnecote Ward in Tamworth, we thrashed the Conservatives. Our vote was up +33%, theirs down -20%. We also won big in Cambridgeshire, Rhyl South, Nuneaton and Staffordshire. Across the country, people get it. Britain is broken. Only Reform will fix it!”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage (Image: Getty)
It comes as Reform has been consistently leading national opinion polls.
The party also swept to victory at May’s local elections, where Labour faced a drubbing, but has not been successful in recent Westminster by-elections, including Makerfield and Gorton and Denton.
But Labour could receive a bounce following Sir Keir Starmer‘s resignation, with Andy Burnham looking set to enter 10 Downing Street within weeks.
Polling by More in Common found that in a hypothetical general election with Mr Burnham as Labour leader, the party would beat Reform UK – but only by a single point.
The survey suggested Labour would win 27% of the vote ahead of Reform on 26% and the Conservatives on 23%.
If Mr Burnham was not leader, Reform takes 28%, Labour 22% and the Tories 21%, according to the poll.
The new Makerfield MP is likely to be installed as leader on July 17 if a challenger does not emerge.