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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

UK Government Condemns New “Intimidating” Protest Against Illegal Immigration

From ABC Color · () Spanish

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

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Portsmouth to oppose the transfer of about 140 migrants who arrived by boat across the English Channel.
  • Hampshire police imposed a dispersal order, while the government condemned what it called intimidating behavior and said the migrants would be taken to detention and processing centers.
  • The protest followed a similar demonstration in Dover, as politicians debated small-boat crossings and government cooperation with France.

The British government has condemned what it called “intimidatory and thuggish” behavior by hundreds of protesters who gathered in Portsmouth to stop the transfer of about 140 migrants who arrived by boat across the English Channel.

Hampshire police imposed a dispersal order covering the landing area and warned that anyone breaching it could be arrested. The migrants were due to be transported, as usual, to detention and processing centers.

intimidatory and thuggish

· UK governmentThe government used the phrase to condemn the behavior of protesters in Portsmouth.

The Portsmouth protest followed a demonstration in Dover on Saturday, when dozens of people wearing balaclavas blocked access roads to the port to protest illegal immigration. All political parties, including the right-wing populist Reform UK, condemned the Dover protest and particularly the use of face coverings. Reform UK said it would ban the practice if it entered government.

ridiculous

· Nigel FarageThe Reform UK leader criticized the latest protest and the government’s response to small-boat crossings.

Reform leader Nigel Farage described the latest situation on X as “ridiculous.” He said Prime Minister Andy Burnham had reached an agreement with France to deploy 45 additional officers on French beaches, but that a boat had nevertheless traveled from the Seine Bay, 170 miles, or 273 kilometers, from Calais and reached Hampshire beaches for the first time. Farage said only Reform could return the boats that arrived.

Conservative MP Joe Robertson called it “extremely concerning” to see migrants crossing so far west. Far-right activists Tommy Robinson and Danny Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, described the protests as actions by patriots opposed to illegal immigration. Thomas livestreamed from the site and said protesters had warned that they would no longer accept the crossings and that “this has to end now.”

extremely concerning

· Joe RobertsonThe Conservative MP reacted to migrants reaching the Hampshire coast.

A Home Office spokesperson said the government was acting against dangerous small-boat crossings and “taking back control of the borders.” The ministry said joint efforts with France had prevented more than 48,000 crossing attempts and led to the seizure of 1,100 boats and engines since the July 2024 general election.

this has to end now

· Danny ThomasThe far-right activist described the protesters’ opposition to illegal immigration.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. 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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