Sarah Pochin at last year’s Reform annual conference.A Reform UK MP has been condemned after she attacked France’s record in World War 2 amid a row over her party’s plan to turn back small boats crossing the English Channel.
Sarah Pochin hit out after the French government said it would be a “violation” of the country’s sovereignty as well as maritime and international law.
Responding on X, Pochin said: “Pity the French did not show the same resolve in defending their sovereignty in June 1940.”
A community note added to her post said: “About 90,000–100,000 French soldiers were killed during the Battle of France (May–June 1940), when Germany invaded. Around 92,000 is the figure most commonly cited.”
Pity the French did not show the same resolve in defending their sovereignty in June 1940. https://t.co/HibZ3SJOoI
— Sarah Pochin MP (@SarahForRuncorn) August 3, 2026The Runcorn MP’s comment sparked an angry backlash from other X users.
SHAME ON YOU
That’s possibly the most disgusting thing we’ve heard from a Reform person yet
Never forget what our brave men and women went through with all our allies as well
Stupid dumb uneducated and quite frankly embarrassing
What an outrageous tweet! This is the tweet of someone unfit to sit in Parliament. A pointless talentless grifting nonentity! Absolutely clueless
— John Fitzpatrick (@johnmfitzp) August 3, 2026It was the French that saved the British in Dunkirk, do not insult all those who died for your freedom.
— Louis Duclos (@ObsDelphi) August 3, 2026Absolutely disgusting comment about an ally. Do you have no shame?
— OldishBird (@oldishbird1) August 3, 202680,000 odd dead, 120,000 wounded in the defence of France in WW2, that’s not including civilians, what number would you say showed resolve Sarah, how much slaughter would you expect, what would satisfy you ??
That was an extremely ill thought out comment in very bad taste…!!!
Under the Reform plan, dubbed “Operation Fortress”, the Royal Navy intercept the boats and return the asylum seekers on board to where they came from in “the largest military operation in the English Channel since World War Two”.
Nigel Farage said the plan did not break international law because they would be carrying out a “humanitarian” mission.
But in a statement, the French interior ministry said: “This would constitute a violation of French sovereignty, as well as a violation of the law of the sea and international law.”
A former Royal Navy officer described the plan as “a crock of shit”.
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