Nigel Farage warns of 'invasion' of young men from countries 'with terrorism, gang culture and war zones' as he blasts Tory control of UK's borders in election speech

Nigel Farage branded the Channel migrant crisis an 'invasion' today as he slammed Tory control of the UK's borders.

The Reform UK leader warned of an influx of young men as he addressed supporters at a rally in Kent this afternoon.

He claimed that the majority of those crossing the channel in small boats were coming from countries suffering from 'terrorism ... gang culture and war zones'.

His remarks echo those made last year by former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman, who has since called for closer links between the two parties.

It is not the first time he has referred to an 'invasion', having been criticised by charities in 2020 for similar remarks.

Mr Farage also shared his fear that the world is at its most dangerous position for more than 60 years.

In a Kent speech, the Reform UK leader said: 'There has been virtually no debate on defence whatsoever other than a ludicrous 'we're going to bring back national service' which would only apply to 30,000 young people who would join the military for a year.

'There's been precious little debate on defence, precious little debate about the state of our armed forces, precious little debate about how little we still do in this country for our veterans, and precious, precious almost no debate on foreign policy.'

Mr Farage added: 'I have no doubt that the world is in a more dangerous place right now than it's been at any point since the Cuban missile crisis over 60 years ago.

'A couple of years back, we would have thought war on a global scale was inconceivable but we now all, don't we, harbour that doubt and that worry at the back of our minds.'

Mr Farage also said: 'We need 30,000 at least young men and women to join the army, get trained and stay as full-time soldiers.'