British government condemns protests against small-boat migrants in Dover and Portsmouth
The British government has strongly condemned the behavior of demonstrators during weekend anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth, which followed the arrival of small boats carrying asylum seekers.
Sea-news.az reports demonstrations involving hundreds of people in both coastal cities triggered significant traffic disruptions.
The first protest took place in Dover on the morning of September 5. A group of demonstrators, dressed in black and wearing face coverings, blocked access roads to the port while chanting slogans such as “Stop the boats”.
By Sunday evening, hundreds of people had gathered for a secondary protest in Portsmouth. The demonstration was sparked by the arrival of a dinghy carrying approximately 140 migrants across the English Channel. After entering British waters, the vessel was escorted ashore by rescue cutters and lifeboats.
Protesters attempted to block vehicles carrying the migrants toward the Manston processing and reception center in Kent, obstructing traffic along routes leading away from the marina.
A spokesperson for the British government condemned the actions of the demonstrators, labeling their behavior as “intimidating and thuggish”. Officials emphasized that while the right to peaceful protest remains a cornerstone of democracy, it must never cross the line into public disorder.
Unauthorised crossings of the English Channel via small boats continue to present a major political and social challenge for successive UK administrations.
