Hundreds of individuals wearing masks obstructed traffic at England’s Port of Dover on Saturday, staging a protest against migration that temporarily halted ferry operations between the United Kingdom and France.
Video footage captured demonstrators in balaclavas chanting “stop the boats,” a slogan directed at refugees and migrants attempting the perilous crossing of the English Channel. The demonstration occurred despite official data showing a 40% decline in small boat crossings between January and August 2026 compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, the issue remains a central rallying point for the far-right Reform UK party.
Police confirmed they were engaging with the protesters and reported that normal traffic flow had resumed at the port after several hours of disruption.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government addressed the incident, stating, “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but we condemn the behavior in Dover and the travel disruption it has caused.” Under the leadership of Burnham and his predecessor Keir Starmer, migrant crossings have decreased significantly, attributed in part to enhanced cooperation with French authorities.
The Port of Dover serves as the UK’s largest international ferry terminal, processing approximately 15,000 passengers daily during the summer months and handling more than a third of the nation’s trade goods with the European Union.
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