The far-right National Rally Party's Jordan Bardella is set to host a joint press conference with Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage on Friday afternoon, as the party's annual conference kicks off in Birmingham.
Speaking to Euronews, a National Rally spokesperson said the pair are set to discuss illegal migration, as well as joint cooperation between the UK and France targeting small boat crossings, a day after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed how to "scale up" efforts to tackle illegal crossings and strengthen the UK's relationship with Europe.
The 30-year old firebrand was once seen as the National Rally's most likely candidate for France's 2027 Presidential elections. He is now operating on a joint ticket with Marine Le Pen, campaigning to be her Prime Minister.
Despite this united front, policy disagreements have emerged between Bardella and Le Pen, notably on the topic of pensions and rules related to the hijab in France.
He has described France’s current pension system as “unsustainable", while also attempting to defuse the controversy around Le Pen's proposed hijab ban in public spaces. Bardella told reporters on Monday that the goal was not to "enforce a dress code", emphasising that a referendum would be held on the matter.
