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🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Britain: New far-right rally after migrants arrive in Portsmouth

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Hundreds of far-right protesters gathered in Portsmouth after about 140 migrants arrived by small boat.
  • Police blocked off the port area and imposed an order allowing officers to arrest people who refused to leave.
  • The protesters said they wanted to stop authorities from transferring the migrants to an asylum processing centre in Kent.

Hundreds of far-right protesters gathered in Portsmouth on Sunday night after about 140 migrants arrived in a small boat that had crossed the English Channel. The demonstration became the second major anti-immigration protest in Britain that weekend.

Police confronted protesters who blocked roads after the boat reached the coast. Hampshire Police urged the public to avoid the port area where the migrants disembarked and said an order was in force requiring people to leave. Anyone who refused could be arrested.

intimidating and thuggish behaviour

· UK governmentThe government condemned the conduct of protesters gathered in Portsmouth.

The government condemned what it called the demonstrators’ “intimidating and thuggish behaviour”. Many protesters wore black clothing and hoods. Conservative MP Joe Robertson wrote on X that it was “extremely concerning to see illegal migrant crossings”.

The protesters said they were trying to prevent authorities from taking the migrants to the asylum registration and processing centre at Manston in Kent. Officers carrying shields protected buses parked nearby while traffic remained blocked.

extremely concerning to see illegal migrant crossings

· Joe RobertsonThe Conservative MP commented on the arrival of migrants by small boat.

A government spokesperson said: “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross the line into disruption of public order.” The spokesperson also thanked emergency services working to manage the situation safely.

The Portsmouth protest came a day after a large demonstration at Dover port, where hundreds of black-clad people with covered faces blocked roads and shouted slogans including “stop the boats”. Days earlier, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron had discussed strengthening efforts to limit small-boat crossings. The boat that reached Hampshire had left the Seine Bay and was monitored for about 10 hours by French rescue vessels. The French coastguard said intercepting it at sea would not have been safe.

The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross the line into disruption of public order.

· UK government spokespersonThe spokesperson addressed the balance between protest rights and public order.
About this summary

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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