HOME OFFICE proposals to draft the Royal Navy in to tackle small boat crossings lack clarity and appear to be “born out of desperation,” a committee of cross-party MPs has said. 

A report by the defence committee, published yesterday, condemns “squabbling” between the Home Office and MoD, saying recent public spats in the Commons and on Twitter over the policy have been “deeply unedifying.” 

The government announced in January that the Royal Navy would take over roles from Border Force, known as Operation Isotrope, as part of efforts to stop refugee boats from crossing the Channel. 

But MPs said that the government had failed to provide clarity on exactly how the military would be involved, and criticised the Home Office for refusing to disclose further details. 

Defence committee vice-chair John Spellar said: “The policy announcement left much to be desired. 

“Six weeks on from the policy announcement, government is still either unable or unwilling to discuss Operation Isotrope. Calling in the navy is not a quick fix to a sticky issue.”

The committee said that the plans would “take scarce resources from an already overstretched department,” and potentially pose “significant reputational risks” to the Royal Navy. 

The issue has seen a public row break out between the Home Office and MoD over which department would carry out the government’s widely condemned “pushbacks” policy of turning around small boats in the Channel. 

Mr Spellar said that the squabbling “severely undermines public confidence.” 

Campaigners argue that the pushback policy would endanger life at sea and risks breaching international law. It is subject to several legal challenges.