Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage praises Tony Abbott’s ‘stop the boats’ policy

Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage smirked while expressing some surprising words of admiration for one of Australia’s most controversial policies.

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s controversial “stop the boats” policy has been praised by a right-wing British politician ahead of the UK’s general election next month.

In an interview with Sky News Australia, Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage was asked if there were any Australian politicians he admired or identified with, after he announced last week he would run in the election on July 4.

The 60-year-old politician, who helped launch the Brexit Party in the UK in 2019, replied with a grin: “Who stopped the boats? Tony Abbott stopped the boats”.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. Picture: AFP

Former Australian PM Tony Abbott. Picture: Don Arnold/WireImage

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott used the same words in 2013, helping him win the election.

Australia was in a similar situation to the one facing the UK now, where more than 45,000 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats to reach the UK last year.

In 2013, 20,000 migrants made perilous journeys by sea from countries like Indonesia, Iran and Sri Lanka, with many dying en route.

Then opposition leader Tony Abbott and opposition deputy leader Julie Bishop in Perth unveiling the latest figure of asylum seeker boats on a billboard. Picture: AAP

During his winning election campaign, Mr Abbott promised to implement border rules even tougher than the outgoing Labor government. Under his “operation sovereign borders” policy, boats would be intercepted and either returned to where they came from or those on board taken to overseas island detention centres.

It triggered huge debate in parliament and fierce criticism from human rights groups.

The Sky News reporter went on to reference a recent article by Mr Abbott for centre-right UK newspaper The Times, which called on Brits to vote Conservative at the polls next month.

Mr Farage then likened Mr Abbott’s endorsement of Rishi Sunak’s government to following the “tribe”.

“Of course, of course of course... the tribe, stick with the tribe,” he said.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage helped launched the Brexit Party in 2019. Picture: Getty Images

When asked if he would consider getting Mr Abbott onboard with his election campaign, Mr Farage replied: “The fact you admire people, doesn’t mean you always agree with them”.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called an early election in May, after almost two years of his Conservative Party trailing behind Labour in opinion polls.

The Conservatives have been in government since 2010, with Mr Sunak appointed as the UK’s Prime Minister in October 2022.

Originally published as Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage praises Tony Abbott’s ‘stop the boats’ policy